Every day, Ayn Dietrich ’04 talks with reporters about high profile cases involving federal investigators, from suspected terrorist activity to searches for missing children. She previously served as an intelligence analyst and the person who briefs the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the attorney general on important cases.
Friday afternoon, she gave Randolph College Summer Research students an insider’s view of that world. While on campus for her 10-year reunion, Dietrich spoke in the weekly Summer Research seminar.
“I love working for an organization whose goal is to protect those who are in this country and Americans overseas,” she said. “I take it as a real honor to spread information about what we do and clear up misunderstandings.”
Dietrich, a public affairs specialist for the FBI Seattle division, showed video clips of various interviews she gave to media, and she described the process of preparing for the interviews—which sometimes involves having an hour or less to master the facts of a case.
She also described the variety of jobs she has performed for the FBI and how her liberal arts background qualified her to find success in those positions. “I couldn’t have experienced this if I didn’t have the versatile background of a liberal arts degree,” she said.
Dietrich majored in international studies and minored in communication studies and Spanish at the College. She also worked in the White House one summer and in Spain for two summers during her college career. When she went to graduate school at Columbia University, she was able to finish in one year, and her thesis was adapted from a paper she began in her senior year at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.
“You wouldn’t think that in a small college I could write a paper about how state owned enterprise in China contributes to the failure of China to create a really robust security system,” she said, noting that a larger university might have a professor who specializes in that topic and could advise her. “But I value because what I had here, because instead of one professor who was an expert who could guide me, the College gave me five.”
She added that the College’s emphasis on writing and communicating continue to serve her daily.
As an undergraduate, she was editor of The Sundial, the student-run newspaper, and served in Student Government while also playing tennis and being active in other activities. In her working life, she has continued to be involved in the community by teaching Zumba and mentoring a teenager. “My ability to do all that came as a result of being a well-rounded student and pushing myself in different areas,” she said. “This school still challenges you to be well-rounded.”
Showing posts with label alumnae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alumnae. Show all posts
Friday, May 30, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
Many returning for Reunion 2014
In a few weeks, many former students will return to their cherished alma mater to reunite with their classmates, former professors, and other friends.
The annual Reunion brings alumnae and alumni of the College back to campus on anniversaries of their graduation. Although all are welcome, those whose class years end with a four or a nine are especially invited to this year’s reunion from May 29 – June 1. More than 170 people from 16 class years have registered to attend.
Activities in Reunion 2014 include tours of the Old City Cemetery and the Randolph College campus; a discussion of a recently-discovered novel by Pearl S. Buck, a member of the class of 1914; a student panel; lunch with faculty emeriti; educational opportunities with no tests or homework; live bands on three nights, and more.
Alumnae and alumni can register for Reunion 2014 and get more information at http://www.randolphcollege.edu/reunion
Registrations after May 15 will require a late fee.
The annual Reunion brings alumnae and alumni of the College back to campus on anniversaries of their graduation. Although all are welcome, those whose class years end with a four or a nine are especially invited to this year’s reunion from May 29 – June 1. More than 170 people from 16 class years have registered to attend.
Activities in Reunion 2014 include tours of the Old City Cemetery and the Randolph College campus; a discussion of a recently-discovered novel by Pearl S. Buck, a member of the class of 1914; a student panel; lunch with faculty emeriti; educational opportunities with no tests or homework; live bands on three nights, and more.
Alumnae and alumni can register for Reunion 2014 and get more information at http://www.randolphcollege.edu/reunion
Registrations after May 15 will require a late fee.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Alumna Anne Wilkes Tucker ’67 featured in Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal recently published a column about the career of Anne Wilkes Tucker ’67. On the occasion of Tucker’s upcoming retirement after nearly 40 years of curating photography at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), the Journal interviewed her about her career.
The column highlights her groundbreaking exhibitions on Czech Modernism, Japanese photography, and war photography. It also touches on changes she has seen during her career.
Tucker, who first worked with photography when she took photos for the Randolph-Macon Woman’s College newspaper and yearbook, has grown MFAH’s photography collection from just 141 prints when she arrived there in 1976 to more than 29,000 prints by more than 4,000 artists today.
She also is a member of the Randolph College Board of Trustees.
Read the full story here: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304914904579439602433136322
The column highlights her groundbreaking exhibitions on Czech Modernism, Japanese photography, and war photography. It also touches on changes she has seen during her career.
Tucker, who first worked with photography when she took photos for the Randolph-Macon Woman’s College newspaper and yearbook, has grown MFAH’s photography collection from just 141 prints when she arrived there in 1976 to more than 29,000 prints by more than 4,000 artists today.
She also is a member of the Randolph College Board of Trustees.
Read the full story here: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304914904579439602433136322
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Professors honored by Annual Fund gifts and sunflowers
Some alumnae and alumni recently surprised some of their favorite professors with sunflowers, and gifts to the College, just before Valentine’s Day.
The Randolph College Annual Fund recently held a special campaign to reach out to some of the College’s younger alumnae and alumni. Staff asked them to make gifts in honor of their favorite professors, who would receive a sunflower and an acknowledgement of the graduate’s gift.
When snow threatened to impact the College on Valentine’s Day, the Annual Fund staff moved quickly to deliver the flowers early.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to those who supported the Annual Fund through their participation in our Valentine’s Day campaign,” said Tamera Jamerson, director of the Annual Fund. “The professors were, of course, delighted to have been honored and remembered by their former students in such a special way. Annual Fund participation is absolutely vital to our students and faculty, as it ensures that the College will continue to provide transformative educational experiences in a close-knit, caring community.”
View some photos of professors receiving their sunflower valentines in this Facebook photo album.
The Randolph College Annual Fund recently held a special campaign to reach out to some of the College’s younger alumnae and alumni. Staff asked them to make gifts in honor of their favorite professors, who would receive a sunflower and an acknowledgement of the graduate’s gift.
When snow threatened to impact the College on Valentine’s Day, the Annual Fund staff moved quickly to deliver the flowers early.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to those who supported the Annual Fund through their participation in our Valentine’s Day campaign,” said Tamera Jamerson, director of the Annual Fund. “The professors were, of course, delighted to have been honored and remembered by their former students in such a special way. Annual Fund participation is absolutely vital to our students and faculty, as it ensures that the College will continue to provide transformative educational experiences in a close-knit, caring community.”
View some photos of professors receiving their sunflower valentines in this Facebook photo album.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Alumna leads United Way fundraising campaign
Maggi Keyes Beckstoffer ’86 plans to jump out of an airplane for the United Way this spring.
As the campaign chair for the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, Beckstoffer promised to go skydiving along with other local United Way campaign leaders if the organization met certain fundraising goals. They are on target to raise more than $13.5 million by the time the campaign ends, so she is looking forward to the jump in May.
“We’re doing very well,” she said “We’ve had some challenges along the way, but between jumping out of an airplane as a way to raise money and using direct mail, we’re going to be very successful.”
Beckstoffer, who majored in psychology and philosophy at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, volunteers with numerous causes, and has served on her local United Way board for more than six years. She is the first woman, as well as the first small business owner, to chair the campaign for this United Way chapter.
She has owned MBM Marketing, a company that organizes and executes marketing campaigns for small and medium-sized businesses and community banks, for about 15 years. Her background in philosophy and psychology helps her see business problems from different angles and motivate her clients’ target audience, she said.
“Understanding how different people think and where they’re coming from is critical to success in any business,” she said. “The College gave me confidence, wisdom, and the ability to think for myself, which has allowed me to build relationships with my clients and leaders in the community and be successful.”
Beckstoffer put those skills to work for the United Way campaign last summer. As campaign chair, she threw the opening pitch at a Richmond Squirrels game to kick off the fundraising, and then she began meeting regularly with community and business leaders to promote the campaign. Her marketing expertise helped her craft a direct mail effort to complement other forms of fundraising.
The volunteer work requires a lot of time and dedication, but Beckstoffer said it is worth it to help the community. “I feel like I’m very fortunate in my life,” Beckstoffer said. “People have helped me and my family along the way. I am in a position where I can use my skills and talents to help others, and it just feels like the right thing to do. It’s a privilege.”
As the campaign chair for the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, Beckstoffer promised to go skydiving along with other local United Way campaign leaders if the organization met certain fundraising goals. They are on target to raise more than $13.5 million by the time the campaign ends, so she is looking forward to the jump in May.
“We’re doing very well,” she said “We’ve had some challenges along the way, but between jumping out of an airplane as a way to raise money and using direct mail, we’re going to be very successful.”
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| Maggi Keyes Beckstoffer ’86 has been leading the fundraising campaign for United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg. |
She has owned MBM Marketing, a company that organizes and executes marketing campaigns for small and medium-sized businesses and community banks, for about 15 years. Her background in philosophy and psychology helps her see business problems from different angles and motivate her clients’ target audience, she said.
“Understanding how different people think and where they’re coming from is critical to success in any business,” she said. “The College gave me confidence, wisdom, and the ability to think for myself, which has allowed me to build relationships with my clients and leaders in the community and be successful.”
Beckstoffer put those skills to work for the United Way campaign last summer. As campaign chair, she threw the opening pitch at a Richmond Squirrels game to kick off the fundraising, and then she began meeting regularly with community and business leaders to promote the campaign. Her marketing expertise helped her craft a direct mail effort to complement other forms of fundraising.
The volunteer work requires a lot of time and dedication, but Beckstoffer said it is worth it to help the community. “I feel like I’m very fortunate in my life,” Beckstoffer said. “People have helped me and my family along the way. I am in a position where I can use my skills and talents to help others, and it just feels like the right thing to do. It’s a privilege.”
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Maria Karos ’86 leads law firm Women's Forum
An international law firm has appointed an alumna to lead a program designed to help welcome more women to the firm and to the legal profession.
Sedgwick LLP named Maria “Kiki” Karos ’86, a partner in the firm’s Dallas, Texas, office as the chair of the Sedgwick Women’s Forum. She previously served as the Dallas office representative to the Women’s Forum. She will lead the forum along with Laura Markovich, a partner from the firm’s New York office.
“I am confident that our new Women’s Forum leaders will continue to raise the bar through their dedication to the cause and demonstrated ability to effect change within the firm,” said Sedgwick Chair Michael Tanenbaum.
Karos, who majored in economics at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, focuses her practice on high-stakes catastrophic injury cases and complex business litigation matters.
“The Sedgwick Women’s Forum was designed to revolutionize the way gender is addressed in the firm, and potentially within the legal industry,” said a news release from Sedgwick LLP.
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| Maria Karos ’86 |
“I am confident that our new Women’s Forum leaders will continue to raise the bar through their dedication to the cause and demonstrated ability to effect change within the firm,” said Sedgwick Chair Michael Tanenbaum.
Karos, who majored in economics at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, focuses her practice on high-stakes catastrophic injury cases and complex business litigation matters.
“The Sedgwick Women’s Forum was designed to revolutionize the way gender is addressed in the firm, and potentially within the legal industry,” said a news release from Sedgwick LLP.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Alumna Afreen Gootee '87 meets with Randolph education students
An alumna visited campus today to talk with education students and share advice about becoming involved in the teaching profession.
Chaman “Afreen” Yusuf Gootee ’87 attended a class taught by education professor Consuella Woods. She later spoke to students in an afternoon workshop.
“It is important to me to have a connection to the College, and to help the students here make a connection to the real world,” said Gootee, who has visited the College occasionally to talk with education students.
Gootee teaches history, math, and computer courses in Georgetown School, an alternative education center in Hanover County, Virginia. She is the president of the Hanover Education Association and vice president of a 19-county district of the Virginia Education Association (VEA).
She said attending Randolph-Macon Woman’s College helped her prepare for teaching and leadership roles by giving her much experience in the classroom through the forms of several practicums even before it was time for her to student-teach.
Philip Forgit, the executive director of VEA, joined Gootee for the event. Gootee encouraged students to join the VEA, including the student chapter at Randolph, for networking and for opportunities to advocate for education.
Chaman “Afreen” Yusuf Gootee ’87 attended a class taught by education professor Consuella Woods. She later spoke to students in an afternoon workshop.
“It is important to me to have a connection to the College, and to help the students here make a connection to the real world,” said Gootee, who has visited the College occasionally to talk with education students.
Gootee teaches history, math, and computer courses in Georgetown School, an alternative education center in Hanover County, Virginia. She is the president of the Hanover Education Association and vice president of a 19-county district of the Virginia Education Association (VEA).
She said attending Randolph-Macon Woman’s College helped her prepare for teaching and leadership roles by giving her much experience in the classroom through the forms of several practicums even before it was time for her to student-teach.
Philip Forgit, the executive director of VEA, joined Gootee for the event. Gootee encouraged students to join the VEA, including the student chapter at Randolph, for networking and for opportunities to advocate for education.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Alumna wins Mid-Atlantic Emmy for video about autism center
Courtney Brinkerhoff-Rau ’86 has won another Emmy for her video storytelling work.
The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) awarded presented the Mid-Atlantic Emmy for a video Brinkerhoff-Rau produced for the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support.
“There are so many fascinating stories out there, and I love the opportunity to tell people’s stories, especially when it can be used to educate people about something that needs attention,” she said.
She has developed a technique for effective fundraising campaign videos, inspired by her analysis of ineffective videos she has endured over the years. “There’s really a craft and a unique way that you tell a story,” she said. “I figured out a good formula for how to get people to watch and pay attention.”
Leaders of the Kinney Center, an autism education program offered by St. Joseph’s University, approached Brinkerhoff-Rau in 2012. She conducted on-camera and off-camera interviews with autistic students in the program, their parents, college students who work with them, and the program’s administrators. The finished film debuted in September 2012 and has been successful in both raising money for the Kinney Center and increasing awareness of the need for autism education.
This was one of her favorite projects because of the inspiring stories it captured—children who met true friends at the Kinney Center, college students who found their passion in education, and parents who found hope. “I’ve done a million stories, but every once in a while there is one that really sticks with me,” Brinkerhoff-Rau said. “This was one of them. This piece was very inspiring to me personally. What a pleasant surprise that it ended up winning an Emmy.”
The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) awarded presented the Mid-Atlantic Emmy for a video Brinkerhoff-Rau produced for the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support.
“There are so many fascinating stories out there, and I love the opportunity to tell people’s stories, especially when it can be used to educate people about something that needs attention,” she said.
She has developed a technique for effective fundraising campaign videos, inspired by her analysis of ineffective videos she has endured over the years. “There’s really a craft and a unique way that you tell a story,” she said. “I figured out a good formula for how to get people to watch and pay attention.”
Leaders of the Kinney Center, an autism education program offered by St. Joseph’s University, approached Brinkerhoff-Rau in 2012. She conducted on-camera and off-camera interviews with autistic students in the program, their parents, college students who work with them, and the program’s administrators. The finished film debuted in September 2012 and has been successful in both raising money for the Kinney Center and increasing awareness of the need for autism education.
This was one of her favorite projects because of the inspiring stories it captured—children who met true friends at the Kinney Center, college students who found their passion in education, and parents who found hope. “I’ve done a million stories, but every once in a while there is one that really sticks with me,” Brinkerhoff-Rau said. “This was one of them. This piece was very inspiring to me personally. What a pleasant surprise that it ended up winning an Emmy.”
Friday, March 8, 2013
Alumna's TED Talk now available online
Kakenya Ntaiya ’04 has captured many audiences with her personal journey that included becoming the first woman from her African village to attend college. Now a TED Talk about her accomplishments is available online.
Ntaiya delivered the speech last fall as part of the popular TED Talk series that features thought leaders from various fields. Titled “Kakenya Ntaiya: A girl who demanded school,” the talk details life in her Massai village, her strategic efforts to convince her father and the village leaders to allow her to break tradition and attend college, and her decision to open a school for girls in her home village.
The speech was placed on the TED website this week. Watch it here:
Ntaiya delivered the speech last fall as part of the popular TED Talk series that features thought leaders from various fields. Titled “Kakenya Ntaiya: A girl who demanded school,” the talk details life in her Massai village, her strategic efforts to convince her father and the village leaders to allow her to break tradition and attend college, and her decision to open a school for girls in her home village.
The speech was placed on the TED website this week. Watch it here:
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Asa Bright Valente '90 featured on Good Morning America
Good Morning America recently featured one of our alumnae in a story about recovering after bone marrow transplants.
Asa Bright Valente ’90 was one of several people who spoke in a segment to welcome back Robin Roberts, a Good Morning America anchor who is returning to the show this week five months after receiving a bone marrow transplant to treat aplastic anemia. Focusing on the challenge of returning to work following, Valente talks about surviving leukemia, receiving a stem cell transplant, and finding renewed purpose when she returned to her school classroom.
You can watch the Good Morning America segment here.
Friday, December 14, 2012
2012 alumna enjoys life in Spain while working on master's degree
Many Randolph graduates travel and see the world after college. Others go straight into graduate school, and others go to work. Jennifer Bundy ’12 has the best of all three worlds.
Bundy is teaching American culture and the English language in Spain, taking weekend breaks to see sights in Europe and Africa. Meanwhile, she is working on her master’s degree through a program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).
“I’ve always been intrigued by the culture in Spain, and I’ve always wanted to see it in person,” Bundy said. “It’s been incredible.”
Tina Johnson, director of the Experiential Learning Center, helped Bundy find the Council on International Educational Exchange’s Teach Abroad program. Jim Peterson, an English professor, told her about UNO’s low-residency master of fine arts program, which allows her to attend a few in-person sessions while submitting work electronically in between. Both programs accepted her.
Shortly after she graduated, Bundy attended a 10-day retreat at a lodge in Nebraska City to take classes for the masters program. A few months later, she moved to southwestern Spain to teach English, geography, and other subjects at a middle school in Utrera. She also found a second job teaching English to adults.
Moving to Spain was Bundy’s first time outside of the United States. Fortunately, she said her experiences at Randolph prepared her for the experiences she is having. Working as a writing tutor at Randolph gave her practice in teaching English skills. The diversity of the student body helped her know how to adapt to living in another culture, and the personal responsibility of the academic curriculum and her senior honors project helped prepare her to be independent.
In between teaching and writing, Bundy has traveled to numerous places in Spain, Portugal, France, and Morocco. She recently spent a weekend with Geneveive Christoff ’67 and her family in Madrid. Bundy chronicles her adventures online at http://jenniferamb.wordpress.com. While she enjoys the travel, she enjoys the cultural immersion more.
“Traveling and seeing the monuments is fantastic—these places are famous for good reason—but taking the time to connect here is my favorite part,” Bundy said. “When I’m 50, I’ll talk about the woman who works in the little panadería (bread store) across the street from my house. Or the guy who works at my school's café and makes me orange juice while joking with me in Spanish. All of the professors at the middle school where I work are so different and so funny.
“That’s the best part: The people.”
Bundy is teaching American culture and the English language in Spain, taking weekend breaks to see sights in Europe and Africa. Meanwhile, she is working on her master’s degree through a program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).
“I’ve always been intrigued by the culture in Spain, and I’ve always wanted to see it in person,” Bundy said. “It’s been incredible.”
| Jennifer Bundy ’12 at the Seville Cathedral in Spain. |
Shortly after she graduated, Bundy attended a 10-day retreat at a lodge in Nebraska City to take classes for the masters program. A few months later, she moved to southwestern Spain to teach English, geography, and other subjects at a middle school in Utrera. She also found a second job teaching English to adults.
Moving to Spain was Bundy’s first time outside of the United States. Fortunately, she said her experiences at Randolph prepared her for the experiences she is having. Working as a writing tutor at Randolph gave her practice in teaching English skills. The diversity of the student body helped her know how to adapt to living in another culture, and the personal responsibility of the academic curriculum and her senior honors project helped prepare her to be independent.
| Jennifer Bundy ’12 enjoys teaching English, history, and other subjects in a middle school in the town of Utrera. |
“Traveling and seeing the monuments is fantastic—these places are famous for good reason—but taking the time to connect here is my favorite part,” Bundy said. “When I’m 50, I’ll talk about the woman who works in the little panadería (bread store) across the street from my house. Or the guy who works at my school's café and makes me orange juice while joking with me in Spanish. All of the professors at the middle school where I work are so different and so funny.
“That’s the best part: The people.”
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Student Center Renovation Update: December 13, 2012
Check out the latest photos of the $6 million Student Center renovation project. Randolph is quickly nearing the completion of this amazing project.
http://web.randolphcollege.edu/studentcenter/slideshow/dec13/index.html
To review all of our coverage of the renovation, please go to www.randolphcollege.edu/studentcenter.
http://web.randolphcollege.edu/studentcenter/slideshow/dec13/index.html
To review all of our coverage of the renovation, please go to www.randolphcollege.edu/studentcenter.
| Decking is being installed on the exterior of the building. |
| Construction is well underway on the new Michels Plaza. |
| A view of "The Street" from the new Skeller. |
| Flooring is being installed on the main level. |
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Candy Crowley ’70 takes strong role in presidential debate
Alumna Candy Crowley ’70 shined before a national audience Tuesday night as she moderated the second presidential debate of the 2012 election cycle. For more than 90 minutes, she guided a conversation between President Barack Obama, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and an audience of undecided voters at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
Crowley, CNN’s chief political correspondent and anchor of State of the Union with Candy Crowley, was tasked with moderating a town hall presidential debate—a challenging format that requires the moderator to manage questions from the audience, answers from the candidates, and any verbal sparring that results as the candidates clash.
Crowley made a strong showing in the debate after some feared that her role, as the first woman to moderate a presidential debate in 20 years, would be limited to inviting audience members to ask their questions. Although both presidential campaigns had agreed not to allow her to pose her own questions, she inserted herself into the debate, forcing each candidate to address issues in the questions and reigning in the discussion when it strayed far from the intended topics.
That power came in part because of her decision to stand during the debate, although initial plans would have given her a chair. “It is so hard to take command of a stage when you’re sitting down and they’re towering over you,” she said in a post-debate interview on CNN. “When I came in and saw this stage, I said, I want to stand. I want to stand up so we’re on the same level.”
When a question about gas prices turned into a debate about overall energy policy, Crowley directed the President back to the central question. “I can tell you that tomorrow morning, a lot of people in Hempstead will wake up and fill up, and they will find that the price of gas is over $4 a gallon,” Crowley said. “Is it within the purview of the government to bring those prices down, or are we looking at the new normal?”
Later, when Romney charged that Obama had blamed the Sept. 11 attacks against the American consulate in Libya on an Internet video instead of calling it a terrorist attack, Crowley helped to move the conversation forward by adding clarification. “(Obama) did call it an act of terror,” she told Romney. “It did as well take two weeks or so for the whole idea of there being a riot out there about this tape to come out. You are correct about that.”
One of the teenagers who led an effort to ask the Commission on Presidential Debates to select a woman as a moderator this year praised Crowley for a strong performance in the debate. Emma Axelrod wrote for the Poynter Institute:
After the debate, Crowley appeared in late night and early morning shows to talk about the experience and analyze the outcomes of the event. Although her schedule is currently dominated with election coverage, Crowley and the College are working to schedule a visit to campus so she can share insights with current Randolph students.
Crowley, CNN’s chief political correspondent and anchor of State of the Union with Candy Crowley, was tasked with moderating a town hall presidential debate—a challenging format that requires the moderator to manage questions from the audience, answers from the candidates, and any verbal sparring that results as the candidates clash.
Crowley made a strong showing in the debate after some feared that her role, as the first woman to moderate a presidential debate in 20 years, would be limited to inviting audience members to ask their questions. Although both presidential campaigns had agreed not to allow her to pose her own questions, she inserted herself into the debate, forcing each candidate to address issues in the questions and reigning in the discussion when it strayed far from the intended topics.
That power came in part because of her decision to stand during the debate, although initial plans would have given her a chair. “It is so hard to take command of a stage when you’re sitting down and they’re towering over you,” she said in a post-debate interview on CNN. “When I came in and saw this stage, I said, I want to stand. I want to stand up so we’re on the same level.”
When a question about gas prices turned into a debate about overall energy policy, Crowley directed the President back to the central question. “I can tell you that tomorrow morning, a lot of people in Hempstead will wake up and fill up, and they will find that the price of gas is over $4 a gallon,” Crowley said. “Is it within the purview of the government to bring those prices down, or are we looking at the new normal?”
Later, when Romney charged that Obama had blamed the Sept. 11 attacks against the American consulate in Libya on an Internet video instead of calling it a terrorist attack, Crowley helped to move the conversation forward by adding clarification. “(Obama) did call it an act of terror,” she told Romney. “It did as well take two weeks or so for the whole idea of there being a riot out there about this tape to come out. You are correct about that.”
One of the teenagers who led an effort to ask the Commission on Presidential Debates to select a woman as a moderator this year praised Crowley for a strong performance in the debate. Emma Axelrod wrote for the Poynter Institute:
In my life, I never saw a woman on that stage acting as an authority over the two most potentially powerful men in America. That is, until Tuesday night. … Crowley was a great choice. I loved her follow-ups and thought she did a sound job of keeping the candidates under control.
After the debate, Crowley appeared in late night and early morning shows to talk about the experience and analyze the outcomes of the event. Although her schedule is currently dominated with election coverage, Crowley and the College are working to schedule a visit to campus so she can share insights with current Randolph students.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Carol Haley '70 sees opportunity to serve on Randolph's Board of Trustees as another way to give back to her alma mater
Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of features on the five new members of the Randolph College Board of Trustees.
Carol Haley ’70 knows she would not be where she is today without the influence of others in her life. When the opportunity to serve on Randolph College’s Board of Trustees presented itself to her, she knew it was another chance to give back to an institution that made a significant difference for her.
“I’ve been fortunate in my adult life, and I attribute much of my success to the College,” she said recently. “In the ‘60s, when I was a student, women were not encouraged to enter the sciences or to obtain advanced degrees,” Haley added. “R-MWC, on the other hand, offered us the opportunity to follow our interests--in my case, science--in a close-knit community of faculty and other students where our abilities were never questioned, but instead nurtured and honed. We were pushed to always do our best. That learning environment provided me with skills and confidence that have served me well in my personal and professional life.”
Haley, who is from New York, N.Y., graduated from R-MWC with a biology degree. She currently serves as a director of regulatory affairs with Pfizer, Inc. She completed her graduate work in biology and earned her M.S. from Old Dominion University and her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. Her career background has included positions with a global corporation, federal and state government agencies (including a stint at the Smithsonian), and in teaching, and she hopes to apply that experience to her work on the Board.
Haley has long been involved in the College. She currently volunteers as a class agent and recently served as the secretary for the College’s Alumnae/Alumni Association Board. She is excited to be a part of the College’s future.
“The College is definitely on the upswing,” she said. “This is an exciting time to be a part of developing the future direction of the school.”
One of her favorite experiences has been meeting current students. At her first Board meeting in October, Haley had a wonderful conversation with a student about life at Randolph. “Things are different,” she said. “But we had so many shared experiences. That is one of the things that I have always loved about being an alumna from this school. Whenever you run into someone, it doesn’t matter how old the person is, you are always able to relate to them. That is still the same, and it tells me the legacy of the school is being carried forward. That is so important to us as alumnae.”
Haley is excited about the chance to give back to her alma mater. “It is an honor to be chosen to serve on the Board,” she said. “I wholeheartedly embrace this responsibility and will do my best to do a good job for the school.”
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Student Center Renovation Update: September 20, 2012
Progress continues on Randolph's $6 million Student Center renovation. Check out the latest photo slideshow here: http://web.randolphcollege.edu/studentcenter/slideshow/sept20/index.html. For coverage and photos of the entire project, please see www.randolphcollege.edu/studentcenter.
| Windows are being installed this week on the outside of the vestibule. |
| The view from the new cardio center. |
| The top floor of the new cardio center. |
| A view of the main floor of the Student Center. |
Friday, September 14, 2012
Student Center Renovation Update: September 14, 2012
Big changes are taking place inside Randolph's $6 million Student Center renovation project. Check out the latest photos of the progress here:
Go to www.randolphcollege.edu/studentcenter for comprehensive coverage of the renovation.
| A view of the main floor of the Student Center. |
| A portion of the chalkboard wall used by the Sundial staff can be seen in this photo of the second floor. |
| A view from the mezzanine level of the cardio center. |
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Tattered bumper sticker leads to new friendship between Emily Fields '16 and Daisy Jenkins Fletcher '50
| Emily Fields '16 |
Just before the academic year began this summer, Emily Fields ’16 was visiting Nags Head, North Carolina, with her grandfather. She imagined the vacation would be a great get-away before she headed off to Randolph. What she didn’t realize was that a walk through the parking lot of her hotel would set off a chain of events that would result in her meeting a kindred spirit—an Even one at that.
“I saw an R-MWC bumper sticker on one of the cars at the hotel,” Fields said. “It was old and tattered, and I got so excited. I thought I’m just going into school, and she’s out of school, and she must have lots of stories.”
During her stay, she asked around the hotel to see who owned the car. On the last day, she made a spur-of-the-moment decision to put a letter with her e-mail on the car’s windshield. “I told her I was a first-year student at Randolph, and I had heard so much about the College. I told her that I wanted to learn more, and if she had any stories, I would love to hear them.”
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| Daisy Jenkins Fletcher '50 |
That car belonged to Daisy Jenkins Fletcher ’50. Her daughter, who had borrowed the car for a trip to the beach, delivered the note. “I wasn’t surprised,” Fletcher remembered. “Whenever I’ve been driving and seen a sticker, I usually honk or something.”
While she also proudly displays her new Randolph College sticker, Fletcher has never been able to bring herself to scrape the beloved R-MWC bumper sticker off her older vehicle.
Fields’ note reminded Fletcher of her first days at the College, and she quickly sent her an e-mail sharing a few stories. “She e-mailed me, and then I e-mailed her,” Fletcher said. “It’s been fun. She is so enthusiastic and bubbly, and I’m so sure she is going to have a wonderful time at Randolph.”
Those first e-mails were the beginning of what both women hope will be a lasting friendship, and Fields said they helped her feel more comfortable during the first weeks of school. “I was curious about the College, and I really wanted to get a feel for what our alumnae are like,” Fields said. “It was great that we were both Evens, and she let me know about some of the songs I would be learning. She told me all about her professors and a lot about what it was like when she went to school.”
Fields began to see similarities between her own experiences and Fletcher’s memories. “I’m really excited to know someone who went through some of the same stuff I am going through,” she said. “I want to tell her my stories and I want to hear hers. It is neat to see how much about the College is the same.”
An American citizen, Fletcher grew up in England, where she lived during WWII. She came to R-MWC at the request of her father. “It was a whole new world for me,” she remembered. “The warmth and caring of everyone just overwhelmed me. I hadn’t expected that, and it made it so much easier.”
Fields can’t wait to experience everything Randolph has to offer her. “You always see these happy people standing around laughing with their professors,” she said. “I always thought there was no way anyone could be that happy in real life. But when I got to Randolph, it really was like that. Everyone seemed involved and excited to learn and be a part of a community. I like that, and I’m glad I’m a part of that now.”
Fletcher is looking forward to watching Fields embrace the life more abundant. “R-MWC gave me a great sense of values,” she said. “The things that were so wonderful to me initially and for the rest of my life were the friendships, the close contact with faculty members, and the Honor System. The College gave me a great feeling of belief in myself, and it made me realize that knowledge is important in living a full life. But it also taught me that friendships are right up there in importance.”
Fletcher is grateful that her alma mater is still enriching her life with those friendships, even 65 years since she experienced her own first weeks at the College.
She has no doubt that Fields will find the same sense of place at Randolph, and she hopes that one day she will be able to meet her in person. “I am thoroughly enjoying hearing about and sharing Emily’s experiences and have been telling people about it,” Fletcher said. “My girls even want to know how Emily is doing. It’s been a very bright spot in the past month.”
Monday, September 3, 2012
Student Center Renovation Update: September 3, 2012
Randolph's $6 million Student Center renovation has made dramatic progress in recent weeks. Check out the latest slideshow at http://web.randolphcollege.edu/studentcenter/slideshow/sept3/index.html. For a comprehensive look at the Student Center renovation, please visit www.randolphcollege.edu/studentcenter.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Alumna chosen to moderate presidential debate
The second time that President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney take the stage to debate each other in person, one of our alumnae will take the stage to moderate the forum.
Candy Alt Crowley ’70 will moderate a town hall-style presidential debate on October 16. She will be the first woman to moderate a presidential debate in 20 years.
Crowley is chief political correspondent at CNN and anchor of State of the Union with Candy Crowley. She is no stranger to high profile political figures, covering numerous presidential campaigns and national political conventions.
Here is Crowley’s reaction as she shared it on a CNN blog:
It will be exciting to watch her play a role in the important process of a presidential debate!
Candy Alt Crowley ’70 will moderate a town hall-style presidential debate on October 16. She will be the first woman to moderate a presidential debate in 20 years.
Crowley is chief political correspondent at CNN and anchor of State of the Union with Candy Crowley. She is no stranger to high profile political figures, covering numerous presidential campaigns and national political conventions.
Here is Crowley’s reaction as she shared it on a CNN blog:
“As someone who is in awe and grateful every day to be in a country where freedom of the press, free speech and free elections are a way of life, I am wowed, amazed and excited by the opportunity to moderate a 2012 presidential debate."Crowley has returned to her alma mater several times to share her experiences with students and the community. She delivered the commencement address at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 2002. After the 2008 election, she came to Randolph College to share insights about that presidential race.
It will be exciting to watch her play a role in the important process of a presidential debate!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Student Center Renovation Update: June 26, 2012
The $6 million Student Center renovation continues to progress. Window installation and work on the two-level cardio center and third-floor theatre have brought big changes to the interior and exterior of the facility.
Check out the latest photo slideshow here:
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