\\VIESILIEYAN Magazine ""... , fax re-,ume~ WANTED: ENCE be- ~ f Good Re t nefits, Savvy, spirited pa~ inities. pre business woman &: ~n.Call cler t-1314 community l .eader shel jlder@ who can bal.ance the 1il · sub •• famil.y, work and salar service. Must be Attn: articul.ate, wel.1. nbe or rounded and olyat Ave. educated in the , S.F. l .iberal. arts; an 11111111 agent of change. ~c ASSOCIATE Welcome to the Summer 2009 issue of the shining example of how alumnae can get involved. Wesleyan Magazine! A Wesleyan education is We know you will enjoy reading about how this recession proof, as you'll see throughout this extraordinary initiative has affected several of issue in which we celebrate the pioneering spirit its participants. We also highlight another new of generations of Wesleyan women in the fields of program designed to develop future leaders, the business. Reflecting on her professional life in the Pierce Pioneer Leaders Program. 70s, one alumna from the class of 1964 remarked, "We didn't break the glass ceiling during that Service is a critical part of Wesleyan's curriculum time, but I feel we put some cracks in it." and is integrated fully into the classroom experience. Wesleyan accounting students, for Clearly, times are changing. Exciting opportunities example, have been giving out lots of free advice. await Wesleyan women of today. Overall, more The group spent their Saturdays this spring Wesleyan College graduates pursue business volunteering with the Macon Housing Authority related professions than any other field. Business Family Investment Center's Volunteer Income administration and economics are consistently Tax Assistance (VITA) program. After successfully two of the top majors on our campus. Academic completing tax preparation coursework required programs also are offered for international by the I RS, they set out to help prepare tax returns business and finance, and popular newer majors for members of our community. This VITA project include accounting and advertising & marketing illustrates how service-learning components are communication. built into the curriculum to produce incalculable results. Year after year, Wesleyan advances students majoring in business to the most competitive Of course, our business students are fully capable graduate programs in the world like the London of directing themselves as well. Competing School of Economics, Carnegie Mellon University, with sixteen other colleges and universities, the and Johns Hopkins. Wesleyan business students Wesleyan chapter of the professional business are consistently accepted to prestigious fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi recently placed second internships and have won valuable scholarships in a Regional Case Competition in Atlanta. for graduate study. This year's graduates are off With thirty active members, Alpha Kappa Psi is to pursue big dreams; many will continue on to one of our largest student organizations and is graduate school while others landed hot jobs open to all majors with the premise that both - despite the recession - with employers like business and professionalism are essential for GEICO, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and Ernst & every college graduate. The group participates Young. in many campus and community service projects, plus successful fundraising and professional After gaining experience in a professional field, events including a wildly successful "Fiscal several business graduates have returned to their Fitness" series of convocations. Our students are alma mater for advanced study. We are excited insightful and perceptive about the skills needed to report the success of our newest graduate to shatter a few ceilings of their own. program, the Executive MBA. You'll meet some of our EMBA graduates in this issue (many of whom But all business aside, re-capping 2009 STUNT, are male) and learn why they chose Wesleyan to Alumnae Weekend, and Commencement are a get ahead in today's global marketplace. must, so look forward to those highlights within the next seventy pages, too. Take time to meet It's no surprise that we are showcasing so many Five Faces of the Class of 2009, a young and Wesleyan women shattering glass ceilings in creative entrepreneur, and our oldest living the fields of business. At every step, Wesleyan is alumna (who tells all). Return to our campus this intentional in its mission to develop leaders, and year- whether it's to enroll in our EMBA program engaged alumnae are a critical component of our or attend one of a hundred events planned. Just efforts to reach this goal. This year marks the 10th come on. We can't wait to see you! anniversary of the Summer Leadership Institute, a leadership program unique to Wesleyan and one Wesleyan Magazine Summer 2009 Wesleyan Women in Business They're shattering glass ceilings & keeping it in perspective 7 Pinstripes Unique MBA program keeps a fast pace 14 Celebrating 10 Years of Summer Leadership Institute The vision of four alumnae has extraordinary impact 'mptoyment 18 Five Faces of 2009 Meet representatives of the Class of 2009 24 How dare you? Very well, thank you. Journalist Mary Therese Tebbe '92 delivers call to action ~29 Wesleyan Honors its First Five African American alumnae reflect on the turbulent 60s 30 Students Campaign for Change 34 STUNT 36 2009 Alumnae Weekend 40 Alumnae Club News 44 Class Notes 62 Oldest Living Alumna Tells All 68 A Day in the Life • of a Young Entrepreneur \0 Wesl.eyan Women ·.... B u s i n e s s _ "Wesleyan prepared me to run with the big boys and win." When Elizabeth "Liz" Humber Hean Stone Liberal arts colleges for women attract the sociology major. "Being a part of graduated cum /aude from Wesleyan in those who believe they can change Wesleyan engenders a strong sense of 1948 with a degree in chemistry, she could inequalities. Since its founding in 1836, sisterhood and mentoring. Early in my not find a job in her field. At the time, it Wesleyan has remained intentional career at SunTrust, I became acquainted was unconventional for women to gain about providing an education that with the National Association of Bank employment in a research setting. She prepares women to be agents of change Women (NABW), an organization that returned to her hometown of Harrisburg, and advocates for social justice as encourages the promotion of women Pennsylvania, where many business professionals, community leaders, and managers and officers." owners were longtime family friends. They, family members. too, were reluctant to hire a woman to do In 1981, Martha was elected president of a "man's job." One such agent of change is Gail the Greater Atlanta Chapter of NABW and Thompson Webster-Patterson who helped organize a statewide association So, this fourth generation Wesleyanne graduated from Wesleyan in 1964. Those of NABW chapters in Georgia. "In the began teaching physical education, Latin were the years, she explained, when a ?Os and early 80s, this organization was and Spanish, and running the office in woman could always be a secretary if important in my career development and a local private school. For many years she needed something to fall back on. in helping younger bankers find their way Liz helped her husband through law So in addition to earning a bachelor's up the ladder of success," she said. "We school, reared children, volunteered, and degree in business administration, she didn't break the glass ceiling during that ran her husband's family business for a took Katherine Gibbs steno classes, just time, but I feel we put some cracks in it." short period of time. Each commitment in case. After she married, her husband strengthened her business acumen and, left for a fifteen-month tour with the U.S. According to Kathleen Neal '67, in a time in 1991, she purchased the travel agency Armed Forces and Gail, armed with a when women were struggling to come she runs today (at the age of 82). degree, looked for a job. She could have into their own as equals in the workplace taught school, performed social work, or and in the world, Wesleyan gave her the Liz represents an era in American history put to use the Katherine Gibbs training, confidence that she could do whatever when women had few opportunities but it was the thrill of the chase in the she chose. Having worked more than in rapidly growing business fields like business environment that interested twenty-five years in public relations and science, technology, advertising, finance, Gail. Her father, who was a banker, had marketing, Kathleen claimed she's "been and manufacturing. Today, women a contact at Virginia National Bank. there, done that, gotten the t-shirt and represent over half of America's labor She got the job, but knew that without written the book I" Kathleen has been a force and many are running companies her father's recommendation, she'd volunteer, staff member, or board member that once saw gender as an obstacle. have never been granted an interview. for over thirty nonprofit organizations. She earned a master's degree from Georgia Although fixed gender roles result in In 1969 Gail moved with her husband State University and is accredited by the inequalities that continue to negatively to Binghamton, New York, and began Public Relations Society of America. In impact women and children, recent looking for a new job. Even then, with 2001, she started her one-person public national survey findings show that women several years experience, it took time to relations and marketing consultant start new businesses at twice the rate of find another position in the financial field. business, Arnold Neal Communications, men, earn more degrees at every level "The two operations in town that could Inc. Also that year, her book, A Primer on and with higher grades and honors than use my services could not believe a female Nonprofit PR: If Charity Begins at Home, men, and hold more middle management had been allowed to talk to customers was published by Pineapple Press. positions than men. and actually manage estates and money," she said. Eventually Gail was hired, rose Kay Carroll Barnes '60 envisioned herself While change has occurred swiftly, through the ranks, and became senior vice as an educator rather than a successful according to the U.S. Census Bureau, our president and senior trust officer with that business owner. She graduated magna culture still supports salary structures that company. Today Gail is an executive vice cum /aude with a degree in mathematics result in gender pay gaps of 25% or more. president at Huntington National Bank in and has taught high school mathematics Many women who have reached the very Naples, Florida. for forty-one years, winning numerous top of their profession are holding their awards along the way. On the side, she own and would rather not talk about Martha Simmons Woodall '64 entered owns and operates Carroll Farms, the gender, considering it a non-issue. But the financial field in 1969 working with largest producer of peaches in the west several Wesleyan women excelling in a (now) Sun Trust Bank and retired thirty central Georgia area, with her son. In wide variety of business fields believe it's years later as a branch vice president. "My their Peach Shoppe, they sell homemade important to view individual success with jobs all required good communications peach ice cream and other peach products historical perspective and open more skills and I believe Wesleyan provided including jellies, preserves, salsas and doors for future generations. this background in the humanities during such. the 60s when I was a student," said Wesleyan Magazine Summer 2009 She grew up working in the peach said. "It amazes me that the young ladies For generations, Wesleyan graduate operation and from the time she was five of today are able to balance all they do." have entered the workforce with unique years old she was stamping peach baskets Jackie started at Wesleyan in 1949 when qualifications because they combiner in her father's packing shed. She inherited she was eighteen years old. Before she major and minor programs in ways th2 the business from her father in 1983 and has graduated in 1987 she had taken time away separated them from other business leaa worked almost every job in the business. from school to get married, rear two sons, ers. Linda Golden Moore '70, for example, Today she runs the packing shed while her enjoy grandchildren, own a bookkeeping is president / CEO of Wiregrass Manage son runs the orchard. Though it is a twelve and income tax business, and work in her ment Group in Thomasville, Georgia, month a year job, Kay is mainly involved church. which manages medical practices. Linda during the harvesting season months of said, "My major in biology took a twist June, July and August, which coincides Balancing family and career has become an into healthcare management where perfectly with her teaching schedule. important issue for an increasing number of have been fortunate to combine my two women. According to Aimee Morris Lashley favorite interests: science and business!" During the early 1970s, when Sarah '96, women can balance work and family Turnbull Snow '74 graduated, assumptions responsibilities in today's technology 1993 Grad Dawn Weber Snow combined that a woman could not, or should not, centered business world. Aimee serves as her degree in business administration with perform certain professions still lingered the regional marketing director for Chick a love of monogramming and embroidery in the business world. Sarah found that the fil-A and primarily works from home. This and opened a store in Macon called Take attitude was even more resolute if a woman communication major claimed she can fold It Personally. Communication Major Haley wanted a family and a career. "We were laundry while on conference calls, check Davis Heath '01 combined her love of starting to break down those ideas," she e-mail while cooking dinner, and generate hunting with business savvy to launch her said, "and Wesleyan gave me a foundation reports in the late hours of the evening own television show about hunting, called and the impetus to work toward breaking when everyone else is in bed. Family Traditions. Haley has been hunting the 'old-boy' attitude. Wesleyan provided since the age of six and her passion of opportunities to think in a creative, multi Thanks in large part to the efforts ofthe last bringing families together and getting more faceted manner - or, outside the box." generation, today's Wesleyan graduates women in the outdoors is evident in her pursue business-related professions shows and speeches. A mother of two, she Sarah was taught, believed, and proved more than any other field. Business balances the show with family and full-time that women can do anything men can do, administration and economics consistently employment at Bass Pro Shops in Macon. without sacrificing the joys of womanhood are two of the top five majors at Wesleyan. and motherhood. She and her husband, Many students majoring in these fields Although Dana Grinstead Tanner '86 was Claude, provided the seed money for the advance to the most prestigious graduate a math and computer science major at creation of the Metadata Research Center school programs in the world, like summa Wesleyan, her career has been all about in the School of Information and Library cum /aude graduate "Lois" Huei-Yu Chen business. Dana thinks of herself as a true Science at UNC-Chapel Hill. Subsequently, '07 who is studying at the London School entrepreneur, having twice started her own she formed a company that provides of Economics, Yuliya lvanova '07 who is business in two very different industries. · metadata research and development studying finance at Carnegie Mellon, and Keystone Solutions, her business from services to major corporations who Anne-Kathrin Witt '07 who double-majored 1992 to 1999, was a database application provide information-based services to their in chemistry and economics and graduated software development company providing selected markets. from the Max-Planck Institute of Research application development services to in Munich. She now is a financial advisor for federal and local government agencies. For this successful female business owner, medical industries with Pricewaterhouse Her other business, Party All the Time, is an balancing career and family is just a matter Coopers in Frankfurt. events entertainment provider of casino of making time for those things that gaming entertainment for fundraisers and are important. Sarah said all of life isn't Business Major Brandy Hayes '98 is among special events. about business and that she has a variety an increasing number of women who return of interests that need to be served. "My to Wesleyan for a post-graduate degree. Dana's career has taken her in many friends and associates will tell you I am After gaining professional experience different directions, but she's felt prepared an excellent time manager," she said. "I working with Applied Engineering because the skills she acquired through guess that comes from wanting to do more Solutions, an architectural engineering a liberal arts education are applicable things than there are hours in the day." design and consulting firm in Macon, everywhere. Today she serves as a senior Brandy returned to campus and earned an program manager at PeopleTech, Inc, When Jackie Kunkel Ivey-Weaver's children MBA through Wesleyan's Executive MBA in Huntsville, Alabama, working with the were small, she always had either a business program. The unique graduate program National Education Partnership Alliance at home or worked part time. Today at age offers professionals the opportunity to through the U.S. Army Space and Missile seventy-seven she owns J.K. Ivey-Weaver earn a graduate business degree through Defense Command. Their goal is to Art Studio in Macon. "My generation felt weekend coursework. cultivate an energized, informed, educated, strongly that the family came first," she and diverse federal workforce. Women control 85% of all consumer purchases. In 1972, "Students shouldn't go to college Business Major Michele McDuffie '99 also expecting to learn things," said Dana. participated in several internships, which women owned "They should go expecting to learn how to she claimed laid an excellent foundation learn. If you learn how to learn, then you for her endeavors in the financial world. As four percent of can do anything." graduation approached, she had several job offers in her field. She accepted a position all American Business Owner Janelle Reynolds Fleming with Edward Jones, then started and ran her '94 also places high value on the liberal own office in Savannah, Georgia. By 2001, businesses. arts focus. "At Wesleyan," she said, she moved to company headquarters and "women are allowed to diversify their became a transitional broker, managing interests through a liberal arts emphasis. over 35 offices nationwide, 500 clients, and This provides a well-rounded education $78 million in assets. Now working as a risk By 1997, that creates a 'Renaissance woman' - one management specialist for Waddell and who is expected to excel in any given Reed Financial Advisors, Michele recruits, that figure endeavor she chooses." Janelle owns trains, and develops financial advisors. Seahorse Coastal Consulting in Morehead She interviews thousands of candidates had climbed to City, North Carolina. Among its many trying to get into the financial planning services, the company provides storm surge business. 26 percent. modeling predictions to the Army Corps of Engineering. Janelle credits Wesleyan with "I would love to see more women going offering many leadership opportunities to into this field, as there are a lot of female In 2008, students. clients who would prefer to work with a female financial advisor," said Michele. 40 percent "I gained a tremendous amount of "The problem is finding women with business experience by being a part of enough confidence in themselves to be of all the STUNT committee and working within successful in such a male-dominated sales the first-year orientation committees," industry. It takes a very special woman to American said Janelle. Through these and other stand tall in this industry." campus leadership roles, she learned the business value of networking and customer/client Confidence, not to be confused with satisfaction, and claimed these experiences power, is an important issue for women owners were opened her eyes to business opportunities in business, according to many Wesleyan beyond her initial training in mathematics. women. Preparation is the key to women and becoming a competent, confident leader According to Business Major Dina Pon '93, who is focused not on gaining control, represented the Wesleyan's internship program provides power, and status, but rather on making a critical preparation for future business difference. Now more than ever, women fastest-growing success and exposes students to valuable are perceived as an integral part of the real life issues in a wide variety of business business world. Women are transforming segment of fields. During her junior and senior years of the face of business by not only moving college, Dina completed internships at Bell into corporate leadership roles but entrepreneurship South and Merrill Lynch. While a student at also owning their own businesses. In Wesleyan, she learned about marketing, 1972, women owned four percent of all in the country. economics, science, math, religion, ethics, American businesses. By 1997, that figure art history ... what she called "a well had climbed to 26 percent. In 2008, 40 - Center for Women's Business Research rounded and relevant education." Since percent of all American business owners graduation, Dina has worked for GEICO. were women and represented the fastest Celebrating her sixteenth year with the growing segment of entrepreneurship in company, she now serves as the southeast the country. assistant vice president of underwriting. Wesleyan Magazine Summer 2009 our culture still supports salary structures Forbes that result in gender pay gaps of 25% or more Places Wesleyan in Top 100 1/J,:•,l0e1,,11 Cr,ll•:•1•; ,., ,,, ti,,, hr, 1'XJ ,,f 1-_t.Jll1~rJt-:S drlcl ur11.;f_·rs1t1r:') r·1~d1r_)r :,,vJ•; After graduating from Wesleyan in 1994, school and held summer jobs in her father's ,-ir ( frrHn tf1•:- ::itc1ti::·. r;f ()f-----11rr;1,1 leaving to start her own company. Currently, job training. l') ;,pp•:,_ir Ill th,-, T•,p l(J(J ru,/,(•s • •,11.,brir;,t,ed ,;11th Dr R,, 1,.,,,J Vr-•i•Vr. Tina is owner and CEO of Fortune Recycling ,iri er -:', FnrfH_-'_'), "tJrf:d 1i'/,/ Achievement Award. Her company, seventy-eight. "My message to my team," Stud,,rit <:v.iltJcJtlf;r,•, ,,f I ,.,f, .. ,.,, Gaddis Partners, has annual sales of $27 she said, "is we want to always be sure we frrHrl R,ttf:n1yr)rr;ff-,•')')()IC., r r1r11 i/ii;i) million. Jean claimed that she relies on are a part of the solution. Don't tell people F-our yf:dr r]rd(11J,1!1'Jf1 r,it1··, 1~ / the valuable preparation she gained what they need to do, help them do it." E:nrr;llrrH·11t .,,jJll',t,-d r11.r,,L,-r·, at Wesleyan to accept the challenges nf stwJ,,111<, ,1r1d f_,, ,ilt; 1u, ;,r of each phase of life and to champion Cyndey Costello Busbee '92 also believes fldtl()ll1tJd(~rit d1•ht uf thr;Sf• tJ<)rr11/11• 1 Women understand business on both large Cyndey graduated from Wesleyan with a rrn '""Y ( 1f ,i,) and small purchasing scales. Currently, degree in communication and a business according to the U.S. Census Bureau, certificate. For six years she has served as Ac:curd1r1,, lei d11, rnc1,Jd/lfli· "(~C1\rY, women control 85 percent of all consumer the director of marketing at The Medical rr1•:ff\f_)(JcJl(Jr_ff <1ttf-..:'ITlf)(') tr) f!IJt .f'i;,'~ 11, purchases. And, women now own the Center of Central Georgia. "Wesleyan cr-)J rc'1;ftfuHd)C1.).(·Jnflt;\ Lsl,-:ir);t ~WS1 IH! ct/)111,V• <',j·' (1l(l()1J~( ,I: 1hil1l •lrfr)1 y largest number of retail trade businesses. really prepared me to use all the parts of fTlC· d( h11:vc· r1(JL1Ll1• ( ,1r1_ _> r·r '>IJ' r ~· ,,,rl If 1 Betty Nunn Mori '58 is one of those owners. my degree," she said. "From the minor to httv(: tr; b ql,,f,,,ljyF' )) PINSTRIPES Unique MBA program keeps up with the fast pace of today's business world In its first five years, Wesleyan's Executive specifically for mid - and senior-level challenging but also immediately relevant MasterofBusinessAdministration Program executives in established careers. Classes to today's global business concerns. attracted professionals from nearly one are scheduled on alternate weekends hundred of the state's leading companies. over a period of nineteen months so Executives in the fields of sales, finance, that professionals can pursue advanced aerospace, accounting, marketing, business education without interrupting cons ruction, human resources, medicine, their careers. and engineering credit Wesleyan's newest graduate program for their successes. Students also spend ten to fourteen days abroad studying under an intense BA and expertly planned itinerary. Past international component trip itineraries have included visits to major business firms in China, Russia, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and Italy. According to students, the Executive MBA curriculum is Clinical Director, The Methodist Home for Children & Youth Sandra Hunt Gardner earned a bachelor's Sandra has worked with The Methodist degree in Spanish from Wesleyan College Home for Children & Youth since and a master's of marriage and family 1992. As the Clinical Director, Sandra therapy from Mercer University before provides direct services as a therapist enrolling in the Wesleyan Executive MBA and performs clinical administration. Program. Although quite successful as a "We provide outpatient mental health licensed marriage and family therapist, services to children, adults, and Sandra wanted to strengthen her business families plus all related supplementary acumen. services," she said. "We have to be innovative and ensure we stay on "I chose the Executive MBA Program at the cutting edge of services offered Wesleyan because of the great experience because of the changing and volatile I had as an undergraduate student at climate of the social services field." Wesleyan. I already knew about the quality of the education offered and the personal "What I gained through the EMBA Program attention. The logistics of the Executive MBA has been quite valuable. The curriculum Program were ideal. The weekend classes offers stimulating challenges particularly allow full-time working professionals the with independent thinking, group work, opportunity to accomplish the program public speaking, and study of academic without major lifestyle changes or sacrifices. areas I had previously not had extensive The EMBA Program gave me a strong exposure to. I developed a mature and foundation in business. I feel more marketable rewarding rapport with professors. Through and prepared to pursue other careers." the relationships with my fellow students, I gained a network of diverse and skilled "But for me," said Sandra, "the international professionals from many different fields study abroad was the most amazing and areas of expertise." experience both educationally and personally. It was the culminating event that made ... earning the MBA rewarding and fulfilling." ....... 8

Wesleyan Alumnae Magazine 2009 Summer

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