beyond stephens fall 2013

ISSUE 5FALL | WINTER | 2013

in this issue 2 FROM DIANNE

Stephens President Dianne Lynch guides you through your magazine.

3 A CLOSER LOOK Stephens College by the numbers!

5 SURSUM GALA Oh, what a night! Photos from the inaugural Sursum Gala celebration.

6 SOCIAL NETWORKINGLike. Share. Tweet. Get in the social media game.

10 GIFT OF LIFE Madeleine Hirsch Gordon ’65 helps make the dream of family a reality for couples.

11 AAB MESSAGEA letter from Alumnae Association Board President Shatenita L. Horton ’06 M.B.A.

25 A STEPHENS SNAPSHOTStephens College Children’s School: A great place to learn since 1925.

departments 4 POINT OF VIEW

New Vice President Meichele Foster welcomes your Stephens stories.

9 STYLERunway revealed: Holly Hmielewski ’14 to debut her top-secret designs.

12 FOODAll in the [Stephens] family: Stephanie Schram Stock ’81 was born to bake.

14 A & E Stephens women in film: Breaking through the celluloid ceiling.

Fit for a King: Alanna Nash ‘72 pens books on Elvis, other musicians.

18 TRAVELCultural immersion: Stephens students head overseas.

21 NEWS & NOTESRemembrances

2 | BEYOND STEPHENS

FROM DIANNEBeyond Stephens Fall/Winter 2013 Vol. 3, No. 2 Beyond Stephens, published twice a year, is for alumnae and friends of Stephens College.

Download Beyond Stephens with your e-reader! www.stephens.edu/beyondstephens

Editor Rebecca Kline, Director of Marketing and Communications

Managing Editor/Writer Sarah Berghorn, Communications Coordinator

Writer Janese Silvey, Story Specialist/Strategist

Art Director/Designer Jennifer Cropp, Graphic Designer

Photographer Corey Ransberg, Multimedia Producer

Published by: Office of Marketing & Communications Stephens College Columbia, MO 65215 (573) 876-7111 [email protected]

Office of Philanthropy Marissa Todd ’10 M.B.A., Director of Alumnae Relations and Philanthropy

Send address changes and story ideas to: Office of Philanthropy Stephens College 1200 E. Broadway Columbia, MO 65215 (573) 876-7110 [email protected]

Or submit an online form: www.stephens.edu/alumnae/forms/twocentsworth

ISSUE 5FALL | WINTER | 2013

Search for the “Stephens College” group: www.linkedin.com

pinterest.com/stephenscollege

Starring Stephens blog: www.stephens.edu/starringstephens

Connect with us online

www.facebook.com/stephenscollege

@stephenscollege

Dr. Dianne LynchStephens College President

ABOUT THE COVER:Pictured: A view of Italy, where

Christie Lee ’14 spent a semester

through Stephens’ Study Abroad

program. Lee took this photograph

of Marina Grande in Capri, a small

fishing community.

Greetings,

I am delighted to tell you that I believe Beyond Stephens is not only getting older, it’s getting better! After some early growing pains, and some helpful response from several of our readers, I think we have achieved the right balance between “news you can use”—from health tips to social media—and more substantive updates on the College’s students, programs and progress. We are deter-mined to provide you with the best and most interesting alumnae magazine in the country, and I hope we have taken a giant step toward that goal with this newest issue.

In our study abroad feature, you’ll learn how our students are pushing beyond their comfort zones and discovering the world beyond our borders. You’ll also read about some amazing Stephens women—from fashion designer Holly Hmielewski ’14, to writer Alanna Nash ’72, to Madeleine Hirsch Gordon ’65, who established her own foundation.

The College’s new Sursum Society formally recognizes and celebrates those in our community whose generosity and support make it possible for us to continue to provide transformational learning experiences to today’s generation of Stephens women—and tomorrow’s. For more in-formation about the Sursum Society, visit www.stephens.edu/giving or contact (877) 876-7156 or [email protected].

Mark your calendars and begin planning to join us for Reunion 2014 (April 24-26). This year’s event celebrates Stephens class years ending in 4 and 9 and welcomes our Performing Arts alumnae of all graduating classes! Michael Quevli ’84 is spearheading the effort that is sure to be a rollicking, song-and-dance filled extravaganza of Stephens spirit. How could you miss it? (And just imagine the entertainment the rest of us are going to enjoy!).

Finally, Stephens is included in the 2014 Princeton Review ranking of the best colleges in the nation (among only 15 percent of colleges and universities included in that elite group, and the only col-lege in mid-Missouri to be included!). Add that to US News & World Report’s recognition of Stephens as one of the Best Colleges in the Midwest, and multiple listings of Stephens as the pet-friendliest campus in the nation, and it’s clear that the rest of the world is beginning to recognize (once again) how very special Stephens is.

All best,

Stephens held its inaugural Sursum Society Gala during Celebrate Stephens weekend in April. Pictured seated (L-to-R): Joan Butcher, Bob Smith, Marilyn White Pruitt ’44, President Dianne Lynch. Pictured standing (L-to-R): Heather Hay ’93, Shannon Blankenship Walls ’93, Doris Painter Littrell ’58, Dick Walls, Dylan Shelofsky ’13, Donna Ensign Marshall ’58. Read more about the event on page 5.

FALL/WINTER 2013 | 3

A CLOSER LOOK A quick dose of Stephens stats, facts and random tidbits…

Search for the “Stephens College” group: www.linkedin.com

pinterest.com/stephenscollege

Starring Stephens blog: www.stephens.edu/starringstephens

The highest total giving amount by a Stephens class with a year ending in a 3 or 8. Milestone classes were chal-lenged to give for Fiscal Year 2013 and recognized at Reunion. The class of 1958 gave the most. The class of 1978 had the highest giving percentage with 17.39 percent of classmates giv-ing. This image appeared in the 1958 Stephensophia yearbook.

Number of high school students the Hagan Scholarship Academy will accommodate. Stephens sold Hillcrest Hall and the old Stephens Auditorium/Natatorium complex to the Hagan Scholarship Foundation earlier this year as the site of a new academy. The new school will serve high-achieving junior- and senior-level high school students in a residential setting.

Appointment of a woman (Helen Froelich Holt ’32) as Secretary of State in West Virginia. Holt, who served for two terms, has had a busy year. Last month, she celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends, including Stephens President Dianne Lynch. In May, Holt received an honorary degree from Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University. Her son, U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-New Jersey, delivered the keynote address.

Months of study in Stephens’ new Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical pro-gram. College graduates can add a science certificate to their studies in order to apply for medical school. The Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate is designed for adults who decide to change careers and enter the healthcare field after they’ve already earned a degree in an unre-lated field.

Learn more: Email [email protected], call (800) 876-7207, or visit www.stephens.edu/gcs.

10

378 $38,081

44 100

Number of four-year colleges (includ-ing Stephens!) selected recently by The Princeton Review as the best colleges in the nation. The “Best Col-leges” guide selects about 15 percent of the 2,500 four-year institutions for this special recognition, based on data, campus visits and student feedback. The Princeton Review also ranked Stephens’ theatre program as 16th in the country! One of our students described it perfectly: “Stephens gives its students everything they could possibly need to pursue their dreams.”

Number of items in the Susie’s campus store—from Stephens attire and bags to drinkware—currently for sale online. Susie’s, which launched its online store this summer, is located in Stamper Commons. Store hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday or online 24/7 (visit www.stephens.edu and find “Susie’s” in the Quick Links at the bottom of the page).

1ST

4 | BEYOND STEPHENS

POINT OF VIEW

W E L C O M E F R O M

Meichele Foster

Meichele Foster began her duties at Stephens on July 1 after a 14-year career at the University of Missouri School of Health Professions. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from the Truman School of Public Affairs at MU, and a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Sociology from Columbia College.

Dear Stephens Alumnae, Although a new addition to the senior staff at Stephens College, I’ve lived in Columbia since 1985 and have always known that Stephens women are different. Stephens women are resilient, strong and talented. And I think most of you would say opinionated, too. I like that because it leaves no question about your feelings and support of Stephens College. Your passion for this institution is incredible, and clearly, you truly value the experiences and education you received here. Stephens is not simply a campus where you studied and made some friends, and then moved on. Stephens helped you grow into the woman you have become. One alumna shared with me that Stephens shaped everything about her—her work, her self- confidence and the way she has raised her daughter. What a tremendous impact. In July, I had the pleasure of spending some time at our Okoboji Summer Theatre in Spirit Lake, Iowa. At a small gathering, I met an alumna who told me about a science professor at Stephens who impacted her career choice when he encouraged her to embrace her intelligence. Today, she is a pathologist. Each of you has your own story—and it is so important that stories about Stephens’ past and present are shared. We need you to tell your stories, to share your memories and remind others of the important role Stephens continues to play in the world. Recruitment is vitally important. Whatever year you graduated, you serve as a role model to the next generation of Stephens women. They need to see the potential that awaits them through the successes of alumnae like you. I look forward to hearing more of your stories as I travel to your hometowns and when you return to Stephens for reunions or visits. When you are on campus, I certainly encourage you to stop by my office in Lela Raney Wood Hall and introduce yourself—my door is always open. And, of course, I welcome feedback, so feel free to contact me any time at [email protected]. Thank you for your commitment to Stephens College. Thank you for telling our story, for recruiting, for giving of your time, talent and treasure. You are so important to the success of this organization, and the legacy of our institution depends on you. I am honored to join the executive staff and to become a part of the Stephens story.

Meichele FosterVice President for Institutional Advancement and Initiatives


SURSUM

A Night of Gratitude

1. The gala was held in the Kimball Ballroom of Lela Raney Wood Hall. 2. Sara Jane Johnson ’56 (middle), inaugural Philanthropist of the Year, and her two daughters, Jeannene Kelly and

Lisa Johnson. 3. Mark Taylor ’73 and Judy Doyen Taylor ’73, emcees for the evening. 4. Shatenita Horton ’06, M.B.A., Stephens Alumnae Association Board President, and Erskine Horton.

5. Ann Shirreff Coffee ’73 and Bob Coffee. 6. Pictured seated (L-to-R): Kathy Digges, Charlie Digges, Sr., Jean Stevens McVicker ’49. Pictured standing (L-to-R): Penny Scalone Kunzman ’67,

Allen Hull Hermann ’63, Vicki Russell, Libby Taylor Reid ’71, Bob Reid, Don Spomer. 7. Pictured (L-to-R): Joan Hubbard ’74, Jan Moses Durrett ’50, Donna Ensign Marshall ’58, Lois Perkins

Luallin ’58, Doris Painter Littrell ’58.

During Celebrate Stephens 2013, Stephens held its inaugural Sursum Society Gala to celebrate and recognize alumnae and friends who have generously supported the College. Sursum—which means “onward and upward”—is a life-sized bronze sculpture that stands at the center of the College’s Journey Plaza. It was created by Nancy Fyfe Cardozier ’45.

Emceed by Mark Taylor ’73 and Judy Doyen Taylor ’73, the event included donor testimonials, recognition of Sursum Society members and the inaugural presentation of the Philanthropist of the Year Award to Sara Jane Johnson ’56. This award recognizes someone who is dedicated to Stephens and supports the institution generously in many ways. New Treasure Society members also were honored with lapel pins symbolizing their years of financial support to the College, and Visionary Society members received special gifts for their cumulative contributions to Stephens.

Find more photos of the gala and the Celebrate Stephens weekend at www.stephens.edu/celebratestephens.

1 2

3 4 5

6 7

6 | BEYOND STEPHENS

Social Networking Social Networking 101Social Networking

A New Way to Connect

Joy Katzen-Guthrie ’80 was reluctant to sign up with the social media site every-one was buzzing about. She didn’t know whether it was trustworthy. She didn’t know why she should bother.

But her friends just kept urging her. “You would love Facebook,” they’d say. “You really ought to be on it.”

So, in 2009, Katzen-Guthrie, a busy per-former and recording artist, decided

to give it a try. Today, she has nearly 2,000 Facebook friends and checks

the site daily.

“Facebook became a way of connecting with people, con-

necting with people I’ve found or who have found me,” she says. “It provides this sense of community and closeness with people that’s so extraordinary and

such a gift.”

Katzen-Guthrie’s insights are backed by research. A study from

Pew Internet, a project of the Pew Research Center, shows that people who participate on social sites are half as likely to feel isolated as people who don’t. It also noted that social media bridges gen-erational gaps—where else will you find grandchildren, neighbors, distant relatives and former classmates in the same place?

Pictured: Brittny Goran ’13

Social Networking 101Stay in touch with friends and family with popular social media sites.

w

Social Networking

—Joy Katzen-Guthrie ’80

It can be a wonderful gift to find out things about people you otherwise wouldn’t have known—their feelings, the loss of a loved one, an achievement.


FOODSocial Networking 101Social Networking

Social NetworkingA New Way to Connect

Facebook helped Katzen-Guthrie connect to former classmates with whom she’d lost touch, and it also reconnected her with some unexpected friends.

“I began searching for Stephens alumnae from the get-go,” she says. “But one of the exciting things I didn’t expect to find through Facebook were people from my neighborhood, people with whom I grew up. We were a close-knit neighborhood but had lost touch. Finding them on Face-book just blew me away.”

A POPULAR GATHERING PLACE

Facebook.com, once reserved for college students, is the most recognizable and pop-ular social media site. For those not familiar with the network, it’s essentially a collec-tion of “statuses” posted by the people you accept as “friends.”

You can find and reach out to friends by typing their names in the search box at the top. The good thing about Facebook—besides the fact that it’s free—is that it figures out whom you might know by comparing your friends with the friends of others.

Sound too invasive? Katzen-Guthrie—who is currently serving as Vice President of Communications for the Alumnae Associa-tion Board—stresses that there are settings you can use to control who “sees” you and

to limit what you’re seeing. You can delete or block friends if you no longer want to connect with them, and you can even block people you don’t want to see on the site at all.

When you’re ready to start participating in the online forum, you’ll see a box at the top of the page asking you how you feel or what you’re doing. Simply respond, and you’ve created a status for your friends to see.

But don’t feel as though you have to post something every time you visit the site, says Brittny Goran ’13, former director of Creative Ink, Stephens’ student-run mar-keting firm who now works at Veterans United in Columbia. She recommends lim-iting the number of statuses you post to no more than five a day.

Not sure what to write? Emily Detloff ’13, also a former Creative Ink staffer, says to think about your statuses as an ongoing way to update friends and family mem-bers with news—the type of information you might include in a holiday letter, only timelier.

“It can be a wonderful gift to find out things about people you otherwise wouldn’t have known—their feelings, the loss of a loved one, an achievement,” Katzen-Guthrie says. “And you can respond instantly, offer-ing a congratulations or a remark of com-fort. It’s so gratifying.”

REAL-TIME INFO

Facebook isn’t the only way to connect with the world from the comfort of your couch. Twitter is another good way to re-connect with old friends and interact with people from across the globe.

What makes Twitter unique is it requires you to keep your messages short and sweet. You are limited to no more than 140 characters in any single “tweet.” Although you can adjust privacy settings to limit who can read your posts, most accounts are open to anyone.

Long used by celebrities and young adults as a place to post brief updates, more pro-fessionals are now using Twitter to spread company messages. It’s where news out-lets offer breaking stories, where people post real-time updates from conferences and events, and where global conversa-tions are happening.

In a nutshell, it’s the place to find out what’s going on in your community and world in real time.

Once you sign up for a free Twitter ac-count, you can search for and “follow” co-workers, industry peers and companies with which you associate. People will also begin to follow your account—these will be your “followers.”

Social Networking 101Social Networking 101

NETWORKING

Social Networking 101

Left: An example of Twitter. In the search box, we’ve typed in Stephens College to see what users were saying about us and the results are the top tweets, including a response from our official Twitter account. If we were to hit “Home” we would see tweets of all the users we follow. Twitter also suggests additional followers and shows us what’s “trending,” what most Americans were tweet-ing about at that particular time.

continued on next page

Social Networking

8 | BEYOND STEPHENS

NETWORKING

You’ll probably quickly notice words prefaced by the number, or # sign. That’s called a “hashtag” and is used to highlight a subject that is part of a broader conver-sation. For instance, if you want to tweet something about Stephens, you can use #stephenscollege to make sure everyone else talking about the College can find your tweet, too.

A SITE FOR HOBBIES

Recipes, gardening tips, design ideas—Pinterest is a “feel-good website,” says Kala Jones ’15. The free website provides thousands of do-it yourself ideas that other people have shared. The Pinterest logo is a push pin—and that’s basically what it is. The site is essentially a virtual bulletin board where you pin up ideas for projects you’d like to work on.

Once you join, you’ll be asked about your interests. Do you want to collect vacation information, home decorating ideas or the latest fashion trends? Select categories, or “boards,” to get started.

You can search Pinterest to see what others are “pinning” by typing in a keyword (try

Stephens College), then browse through the related photos, videos and websites others have pinned.

Regardless of how you’re using the Inter-net, use good judgment on any online forum, says Katzen-Guthrie.

Despite the fact that you might read the occasional annoying political rant or seem-ingly meaningless update on Facebook, Katzen-Guthrie says the pros heavily out-weigh the cons.

“It’s an anthropological treasure trove. It tells us things about ourselves, what we value and what other people value,” she says. “You are in touch with people you might not regularly see—even local peo-ple in your neighborhood or a colleague or someone from your church or syna-gogue. Maybe you would communicate with them now and then, but when you read their posts, you have this sense of being connected with them all the time. It’s powerful.”

Feeling social yet? Don’t forget to “Like” Stephens on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and check out our Pinterest page.

Above: A screen shot from the Stephens College Pinterest page. This is a “Back to School 2013” board where we’ve collected dorm room ideas, inspirational quotes and some items available at Susie’s campus store. The ideas we’ve “pinned” come from our photos, as well as photos others have pinned.

Social Media: Online technology that allows people to share content online

Social Networking: The act of socializing in an online community

Facebook: The most popular social networking site that allows members to share statuses, or updates, photos or videos with friends

Twitter: A social media site that lets members post updates in fewer than 140 characters and provides real-time information

Pinterest: An online pinboard that lets you bookmark recipes, clothing styles, remodeling ideas or do-it-yourself projects that you find online and don’t want to forget

Hashtag: A way to highlight a topic or event on Twitter or Facebook. Preceded by the number sign, or #, the phrase helps organize and discover relevant tweets

Mention: When someone men-tions another person on Twitter or Facebook: Using the @ sign in front of a person’s name will alert her to your post

Tags: Keywords that can help users find relevant materials. Tags can be used to mention individuals, identify people in online photographs or highlight an event or subject others are also discussing

Retweet: When you share someone else’s tweet using a “RT” in front of it

Modified Tweet: When you repost but alter someone’s else’s tweet, use an MT in front of it

Trending: When a common topic or event is among the most discussed on Twitter

A quick glossary of

social lingo


Holly Hmielewski ’14 is keeping her de-sign ideas under wraps until they debut on the runway at the Fashion Group Inter-national Dallas “Night of the Stars” event later this fall. So all we can tell you is that they’re going to be amazing, at least judging from the pho-tos she’s pinned to her inspiration board. She reluctantly agreed to let us tell you that her prints will be loosely inspired by scenes from nature, but Hmielewski insists no one know details until the fashion show. Hmielewski won the Musselman Fashion Design Award at the Fashion Group Interna-tional of Dallas Career Day in April, where she competed against more than 1,200 stu-dent designers. She snagged two first-place awards—one for a carousel-inspired sun-dress (shown in the table of contents) and another for a galaxy-themed swimsuit— and caught the attention of Forty-Five Ten Owner Brian Bolke, who ultimately selected her for the event’s major award.

The Musselman prize came with a $10,000 check and a chance to design a collection under Bolke’s mentorship for the FGI Dallas Fashion & Lifestyle Awards on Nov. 15.

Although specifics are not yet known to the public, Hmielewski’s designs will no doubt be edgy—think large images print-ed on silks and other high-quality fabrics. Not a fan of prints that repeat, Hmielewski likes the idea of turning photographs into clothing. Her primary source of inspiration comes from designer Mary Katrantzou, whose creations are more like wearable artwork featuring landscapes, birds and other exotic images. For her upcoming collection, Hmielewski will showcase prints on five garments, in-cluding dresses and swimwear. She is also designing a coordinating outfit that she’s been asked to wear to the event. Although the digitally engineered prints that have emerged on the runway over the

past several years are trickling into de-partment store lines, Hmielewski warns that not all will come off as fashionable. To make sure you’re pulling off the look, select high quality fabrics, and check that the patterns appear seamless even where there are seams. That’s the trickiest part of designing with large images, Hmielewski said. When cre-ating the horses on her award-winning carousel skirt, for instance, she had to take time to make sure the artwork aligned to create one continual picture.

Hmielewski came to Stephens from Flor-ida planning to pursue a degree in dance but instead fell in love with fashion. She credits the College for teaching her every-thing, including basic sewing skills.

STYLE

—Holly Hmielewski ’14

I wouldn’t be here without Stephens.

Holly Hmielewski ’14 is preparing to reveal her digitally engineered collection this fall.

KEEPING UNDER WRAPS

10 | BEYOND STEPHENS

PROFILE

Madeleine Hirsch Gordon ’65 has accept-ed the bittersweet and ironic reality: Had she had a child of her own, 47 other chil-dren might not exist today.

“Had I had a child, no, I would not be rais-ing funds for infertility,” she says from her Cincinnati home.

The Madeleine Gordon Gift of Life Foun-dation is a non-profit organization 501(c3) that provides funding to deserving couples who cannot conceive without in vitro fer-tilization or afford the process. Since 1995, the foundation has helped bring 47 babies into the world, with a 48th on the way.

It’s not that Gordon didn’t want children; in fact, she refers to herself as “involuntarily childless.” For 15 years, she and her former husband struggled to get pregnant, con-sulting with some of the best infertility ex-perts in the world and trying numerous pro-cedures. It was a painful, lonely experience.

“I never discussed it with friends,” she says. “That part was difficult. I was giving my-self shots, so they had to be timed perfectly and they silently interrupted personal and professional calendars. There were drugs involved and hormones involved that af-fected my moods. It was stressful.”

Approaching her 50th birthday, Gordon came to terms with the fact she would not be a mother.

That she would go on and help dozens of other women become mothers, instead, began with a sermon.

“It was a rabbi,” she says. “It was inter-esting: He wasn’t asking people to give to the temple but instead was asking the congregation to think about what we could be passionate about as individuals beyond our own family and friends, beyond our work. And I started thinking about it. What would I do if I knew I could get pregnant but couldn’t afford the process? And I re-alized it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself and think about others who didn’t have the same financial opportunities I had to try to become pregnant. The idea of a foundation became a resolution for me, to move on from my own disappointment. It was an awakening.”

Gordon—a former literature teacher, a trailblazer in the Ohio Riverview real es-tate scene and an arts advocate in her community—gathered 80 of her closest friends together for a birthday luncheon and asked them to contribute to her cause in lieu of gifts.

And in 1995, the Madeleine Gordon Gift of Life Foundation was born.

Today, the foundation is under the aus-pices of the University of Cincinnati Col-lege of Medicine and partners with the Christ Hospital. A team of doctors there

work alongside the foundation, referring couples to Gift of Life who would benefit from in vitro fertilization. These couples are those who can’t afford the process and have little or no medical coverage. Poten-tial parents then submit a letter, go through intensive physical and some psychological evaluations, and are interviewed by Gor-don and the foundation’s advisory board before being selected.

The foundation requires couples to live in the Cincinnati area, although Gordon is hopeful others will use her program as a model and start similar foundations else-where. “It is a portable process and I am willing to visit other cities and introduce what we have done to their communities,” she says.

The rewards are overwhelming, Gordon says. Many of the families welcome her into their lives, the children referring to her as “Auntie Mady.” She’s invited to countless dance recitals, baptisms and ballgames, and each year around this time, the families reunite at Gordon’s home for a collective pool and birthday party. One couple even named their daughter after her.

“I never thought about what would hap-pen after the foundation helped some-one become pregnant,” she says. “I had no idea the enduring appreciation these couples would have… I feel this was to be my mission.”

Gift of LifeMadeleine Hirsch Gordon ’65 established a foundation to assist couples who struggle with infertility.


Greetings from the Alumnae Association Board As members of the Stephens College Alumnae Association Board (AAB), we are honored to serve our alma mater. The board represents many generations of Stephens graduates, and together we are able to impact Stephens in many different ways. Last year, members of the AAB Executive Board took a hard look at the structure of the AAB to decide if we were meeting the current needs of Stephens. After many conversations, including a retreat in August 2012 in Chicago, we determined the need to reposition ourselves to give the very best that we had to Stephens. The new structure was adopted at our meetings in September 2012, and today, we have a more regionally structured AAB. The AAB is now comprised of the Executive Committee (Immediate Past President, President, President Elect and Vice President of Communications); a National Board that includes the Executive Committee, as well as six National Chairs; 16 geographic areas with Regional Directors; and the Network, which is the Alumnae Association. We feel this structure will enable us to reach out to alumnae across the nation so that together we can do important work to benefit Stephens. The AAB has three main goals: engage alumnae, engage current students and recruit future students. There are many opportunities for alumnae to get involved in their respective cities. The 2013-2014 academic year will be a building year for the AAB as we position ourselves to successfully reach our goals, and we need your help! Please contact Aimee Davenport ’98, President Elect, at (573) 289-3979 or [email protected]; or myself at (573) 489-5871 or [email protected] to get involved today. You may also visit us online at www.stephens.edu/alumnae/aab. Before you know it, 2013 will be a memory and 2014 will be here. Now is the time to save the date for Reunion 2014, April 24-26, and join us at the 2014 Leadership Conference, which is held in conjunction with Reunion, to learn more about the AAB and how you can get involved. This conference is open to everyone and your attendance is highly encouraged. More information will be available when Reunion registration opens later this year. We welcome your involvement, and we invite you to rediscover the potential of Stephens today.

In Stephens Spirit, Shatenita L. Horton ’06 M.B.A.

AAB MESSAGE


FOOD

Her family felt strongly about traditions when Stephanie Schram Stock ’81 was growing up. She’s continued that legacy, first by attending Stephens and now by opening a party business that combines the cookie recipes passed down four generations with modern technology that lets her per-sonalize the treats. Stock has opened Best Wishes LTD. out of her home in Wildwood, Mo. Re-lying mostly on word-of-mouth advertising, she’s begun creating custom events for weddings, birthdays, corporate parties and other celebrations, including her specialty embellished cookies. With the help of a computer program, Stock is able to “print” photos, logos and other individualized artwork onto frosting, making her cookies one-of-a-kind.

She’s even created a Stephens College cookie—or, rather, a shortbread cookie with the Stephens College logo on it.

The “official” Stephens College cookie in her family is something else entirely— a molasses-date icebox cookie her mother referred to as the Stephens Col-lege cookie because it was a cookie often served in the campus dining hall.

Stock grew up eating “Stephens College cookies,” helping make fund-raising crafts with her mother’s St. Louis Stephens Afternoon Alumnae Club and knowing that she would some day attend the school.

It was an expectation that began with her grandmother, a Doniphan na-tive who dreamed of attending Stephens but was needed at home to help with the family store. So she passed the dream on to her daughters. Stock’s mother, Corinne Lawrence Schram ’41 (pictured on opposite page), earned a degree in dress and fashion design and went on to become a successful dress designer. Stock’s aunt, Sara Lawrence Sewell ’46, also attended and used her degree in higher education. Both have since passed away.

Her family’s baking season began in October, Stock’s birthday month, and continued throughout the holidays. The family used the same recipes every year—including the molasses-date “Stephens” cookies and Spritz cookies, as well as 20 other kinds each year.

Best Wishes LTD. is a second career for Stock, who earned her Stephens degree in elementary education and went on to earn two master’s degrees while enjoying a 22-year career as a teacher, counselor and administrator.

ALegacy of BakingFavorite cookie recipes from a Stephens legacy family.

—Stephanie Schram Stock ’81

When I grew up, it was just the expectation that I would go to Stephens. I never considered any place else.


FOOD

ALegacy of BakingFavorite cookie recipes from a Stephens legacy family.

Stephens College Cookies 2 cups brown sugar1 cup butter2 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla1 cup dates cut fine1 cup pecans1 teaspoon cream of tartar1 teaspoon baking soda½ teaspoon salt3 cups flour

Mix and form dough into logs. Wrap in wax paper and chill until firm. Slice onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350°F until light brown.

Cookies

Shortbread Cookies

1 cup butter

½ cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoons almond extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 ¼ cups flour

Mix in mixer or by hand. Press

flat on floured surface and cut out

shapes. Bake 7 to 10 minutes at

375°F.

Cookies

Holiday Spritz Cookies1 cup shortening¾ cup sugar1 egg2 ¼ cups flour1/8 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon almond extract

Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg and dry ingredients. Mix well. Fill Mirro Cookie Press with dough. Press onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes. (Note: Mirro Cookie Presses have disappeared from store shelves over the years but are plentiful on eBay.com and Amazon.com.)

Ornamental Icing for Spritz Cookies¼ cup margarine softened 4 cups powdered sugar2 egg whites1 teaspoon almond extract¼ teaspoon cream of tarter1-2 teaspoons cream or milk

Beat until right consistency. Lightly spread on Spritz cookies with finger. Dip lightly in sprinkles.

Cookies


A & E

Stephens’ digital filmmaking program aims to help shrink the entertainment industry’s gender gap.

Cracking the CeilingEarlier this year, Disney caused an uproar when the company tried to give its bravest heroine, Merida, a makeover.

Brenda Chapman created Merida—the wide-eyed, bow-and-arrow-packing red-head in the 2012 animated film Brave—to serve as a refreshing break from the picture perfect princesses who make up the Disney line-up. Merida was real. A tomboy. A fe-male role model whose imperfections could show imperfect little girls that they’re OK. And even though Chapman was removed from the project—her creation handed over to a man—she told media outlets she was just happy Merida made it to the big screen as her natural self.

Then in May, Disney revealed a slimmer, sleeker and sparklier version of Merida. Her hair was fuller, waist thinner, eyes narrower, chest fuller—and her bow and arrow were nowhere to be found.

It was only after widespread public push-back that the company ultimately returned Merida to her original self.

And that’s why we need more women working in film and television, Stephens Associate Professor Kerri Yost will tell you. During an interview this summer, she used the timely scenario to highlight the relation between gender and what we see in enter-tainment today. Men have dominated the film and television industry for a century, and the results have been overtly sexual-ized media (even commercials for cleaning products are suggestive) and a public per-ception heavily skewed by male eyes.

The entertainment industry is lagging behind other industries when it comes to gender equality. Of the 250 top-grossing

domestic films in 2012, women accounted for 9 percent of all directors, according to a report from Celluloid Ceiling.

“This is an industry based on confidence, and women haven’t felt as confident be-cause culturally they have no representa-tion in the profession,” Yost said.

Predominately male film schools and the notion that women could not handle elab-orate equipment have contributed to the problem, keeping many would-be female filmmakers away.

Enter Stephens College.

For nearly a decade, the Digital Filmmak-ing program at Stephens has been giving young women the chance to explore all aspects of the industry—the production, lighting, audio, editing and directing. The program culminates with seniors creating their own short films from start to finish.

So what do you get from a woman with a camera that you might not get from a man? An entirely new way of looking at things.

Kelli Devon Ross ’13 didn’t just create a less attractive Disney princess for her se-nior project last year; she created an en-tirely new type of fairly tale when she be-gan thinking up backstories of the magical props central to the well-known stories.

Assistant Professor Chase Thompson pre-dicts moviegoers will start seeing those types of innovative ideas when more wom-en are put in charge.

“We need a fresh perspective,” he said. “Everything we’re seeing now, they’re all remakes of the same old story told again and

again from the same perspective. We need to get cameras in the hands of women.”

BUILDING ON A STRONG FOUNDATION

The College’s digital filmmaking program began in 2004, but it has deep roots on the campus. Stephens women have been working in the two large Patricia Barry stu-dios on campus for decades, previously as part of mass media and broadcast journal-ism programs.

Digital filmmaking was born out of the College’s goal to keep up with changing market trends and a desire to send more females into a growing industry that wields a lot of influence.

“Stephens is always focused on careers, and we’re small and nimble enough to adapt to changing times,” Yost said. “We started the digital filmmaking program strategically. We reaffirmed the women’s college mission, and there aren’t enough women in film. Our mission is to get more women in front of and behind the camera.”

Because the program was built for the times, Stephens was one of the early pro-grams to adopt digital technologies.

“Others have tried to evolve with the in-dustry, and some are now scrambling to get everything digitized,” Yost said. “We went digital early, and that was a smart decision.”

But while technology allows anyone to film from anywhere in the world, mid-Missouri isn’t exactly a mecca for moviemaking. That’s why Stephens launched the Citizen Jane Lecture Series alongside the major. The series brings women working in the

Of the 250 top-grossing domestic films made in 2012, women accounted for 9 percent of all directors.

—Celluloid Ceiling


A & E

The Citizen Jane Film Festival is Oct. 4-6 on the Stephens College campus.

For more information or to purchase passes, visit www.citizenjanefilm.org.

A few of the films expected to be screened this year:

MaidentripJillian Schlesinger

The amazing true story of 14-year-old Laura Dekker and her solo voyage around the world in a sailboat.

Remote Area Medical Farihah Zehman, Jeff Reichert

A powerful documentary about vol-unteers who provide healthcare for as many people as possible during a three-day marathon, introducing viewers to the working poor who go to great lengths to receive care.

Our NixonPenny Lane

A “surprisingly and artistically keen” portrayal of President Nixon.

Grow Up Tony PhillipsEmily Hagins

A coming-of-age story for people too old to come of age.

film and television industry to campus, al-lowing students to see career potential and make connections in the field.

Again, Stephens proved to be ahead of her time: A study earlier this year from the Sundance Institute and Women in Film Los Angeles found that mentorship is crucial if show business is going to achieve equity.

Guests to date have included Joni Tackette, casting director of Up in the Air, starring George Clooney; independent filmmakers; and women who work at big-name stu-dios such as Dreamworks. This summer, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded a $10,000 grant to the Citizen Jane Lecture Series to allow the College to bring in more female producers, directors and those making films to campus.

“This grant will allow us to bring women who are at the forefront of the film indus-try right now to Columbia to share their knowledge with our students and with the community,” Yost said.

As an extension of the lecture program, Stephens in 2008 launched the Citizen Jane Film Festival, a three-day festival

showcasing the works of female filmmak-ers from around the world. What started as a symposium has nearly doubled every year since and is now a full-blown festival, giving women a chance to screen and dis-cuss their works.

“Citizen Jane Film Festival does a good job of championing the idea that women’s voices are powerful and need to be rep-resented,” Thompson said. “For students, here are people—women like them—doing what they want to do and showing them it’s not just a hobby.”

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

At Stephens, digital film faculty members don’t just teach filmmaking, they make films. Yost has directed several documenta-ries that have received national recognition. Thompson’s short film, Threshold, received a nod at an international film festival ear-lier this year—and he was back on set this summer with a new feature project. Assis-tant Professor Steph Borklund, the most re-cent addition to the team, spent the summer working on her new short film, I Am One, co-produced by Creative Writing Assis-tant Professor Kate Berneking Kogut.



A & E

A well-rounded education. Top: Assistant Professor Steph Borklund during filming of an independent short she produced this summer with the help of film students. Middle: The annual Citizen Jane Film Festival includes screenings, discussions and concerts. Bottom: Madeline Carl '15 and Meredith Jacob '15 pose in front of a Simpsons statue on the Fox Studio during a trip to Los Angeles this summer.

“It is imperative for our digital film faculty to be working filmmakers,” Borklund said. “The digital filmmaking world changes so rapidly—new cameras, new codes, new recording formats. Being working film-makers helps us relate to the students. We understand the stress and complications that go with making a film.”

Even with experienced faculty, though, Yost and Stephens President Dianne Lynch are committed to making sure filmmaking students have the most current and accu-rate understanding of the industry. That’s why this summer, Yost and Borklund took film students entering their junior years to Los Angeles—an inaugural trip that will now be offered annually.

In L.A., students had a chance to tour the Fox lot, visit the Writer’s Guild and watch several films during the Los Angeles Film Festival.

“It’s an opportunity to open their eyes to what’s out there and how it works and if it’s right for them,” Borklund says.

Meredith Jacobs ’15 says the trip gave her a glimpse into the realities of the industry.

“For me, personally, I know I don’t want to go to L.A. to work,” she says. “It was a mystical land in my mind, but it’s not. It’s really structured.”

Jacobs believes there are better places for her to pursue a career. She knows she wants to work in a collaborative environ-ment and continue to create her own short films—she’s already made dozens, two of which have won Columbia’s annual One Night Stand 24-hour film competition.

Jacobs works on most of her films with classmate Madeline Carl ’15. In their film Love Yourself Carl strips down to gym shorts and a sports bra before “trying on” a number of different and imperfect ani-mated body types. Viewers watch as Carl stands silently, allowing animation to transform her body into various shapes and sizes and to give her face a variety of different imperfections. Now that’s brave.


TEXT

There’s something about Alanna Nash ’72 that makes you want to tell her your life story. Nash has a way about her, a way of letting you know she is listening, that she cares.

Perhaps that’s why the musicians she’s profiled during her more than four-decade journalism career have opened up to her with candid details of their lives. They know she’s interested in their music—that she wants to know why they’ve written those lyrics, how their lives are reflected in their art and vice versa, the stories behind the songs.

Nash carved out a career as a freelance journalist shortly after earning a master’s degree from the Columbia University Grad-uate School of Journalism. She wrote her first book, a biography of Dolly Parton, in the late 1970s. Although much of her work has been about musicians, over the years Nash has broadened her reach, penning a biogra-phy of troubled broadcaster Jessica Savitch and being the last to interview Christopher Reeve about his life after the accident that grounded Superman.

With several books on Elvis Presley and his handlers, Nash is considered an ex-pert on the King. Her Columbia University alma mater recently named “Elvis and the Memphis Mafia” one of the 100 Great Sto-ries of the past century. The book explores

Presley’s group of friends, advisors and bodyguards who surrounded and protect-ed the performer in his later years.

Her latest book, “Baby Let’s Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him,” explores the complexity of Presley’s psyche, his crippling attachment to his mother and unending quest for the perfect woman—and she does so without judg-ment. While his fascination with 14-year-old girls might make us cringe, Nash is quick to point out that, emotionally, Pres-ley wasn’t that much older.

Nash admits she tends to gravitate toward people with flaws, saying she’s interested in the “defining moments, their choices and consequences. I’m always trying to understand why people do what they do.”

That understanding extends beyond ce-lebrities: Nash is known for her compas-sion toward those around her. That’s the reason why former Stephens fac-ulty member Jane Ellen Ashley and Wendy Pannier ’70 nominated her for the Alumnae Achievement Award, which Nash accepted at Celebrate Stephens weekend in April.

“For all her accomplishments, Alanna has remained humble,” Pannier wrote. “She is always willing to help others and does so quietly without fanfare. ... I have seen her

befriend the friendless, and also provide strong moral support to her own friends in times of need.”

Nash credits her parents, Allan and Emily, for instilling in her a love of words, calling them “quiet intellectuals.” Her father read Beowulf, while her mother wrote poetry. Emily Nash also put the first library in an elementary school in the state of Kentucky, quite a feat for a stay-at-home mom.

They also made sure their younger daugh-ter had a good collection of Shakespeare and a place to keep her books. “I’m sure I was the only 10-year-old at school with a leather book bag with my name embossed in gold on it,” Nash says. “How could I have turned out any differently?”

Nash’s parents encouraged her to follow in her older sister’s footsteps and attend Stephens, where Nash quickly became part of the Stephens Life newspaper staff. She’d go on to challenge dining dress codes, write about racial issues of the time and be-come managing editor.

In one opinion piece, she praised her par-ents for their moral code and joked about how they might have frowned on some of her college friends. Stephens, she wrote, taught her to reserve judgment. “It’s easy to pass judgment on people,” she says, “unless you try to walk in their shoes.”

A & E

Alana Nash ’72 (pictured center) with Jane Ellen Ashley, a former Stephens faculty member (left), and Wendy Pannier ’70 (right). The pair nominated Nash for Stephens’ highest alumnae honor, the Alumnae Achievement Award.

Alanna Nash ’72 writes with compassion and a clear understanding of her subjects.

Behind the Words


Adventures Abroad


TRAVEL

Even though it was the first time she’d ever flown, she was fine until the plane landed.

That’s when it hit her. Colby Elliott ’15 was on her own. In London. An ocean away from home. And immediately, she was homesick for her family back in St. Louis.

“That would have to be the most challenging part of the entire trip,” Elliott says, joking that the thought of swimming back to the States crossed her mind.

But Elliot adjusted. She immersed herself in her courses at the London College of Fashion, an intense program that kept her busy during the daytime. In the evenings, she took her mind off home by exploring the city’s streets and shops.

And although she “absolutely loved” her studies, Elliott also realizes her greatest lesson happened outside of a classroom.

“I have learned that there is nothing in this world that I cannot achieve,” she says. “I have gained a new independence and strength within myself that I did not know I had.”

And that is the ultimate benefit of studying abroad, says Lynda Baumgartner, Study Abroad Coordinator at Stephens. She has spent the past four years focused on increasing the number of students who take advantage of overseas opportunities. While she prefers that stu-dents spend an entire semester abroad, she was thrilled to see 13 Ste-phens women venture out of the United States this summer.

The main benefit of traveling overseas, Baumgartner says, is that it forc-es students to step out of their comfort zones and into the world—and to realize they can succeed there.

“They’ve earned the ability to say: ‘I did it,’ ” Baumgartner says. “‘And if I can do this, what can I do next?’”

Adventures Abroad Stephens students

gain confidence and

invaluable global

experience through

studying overseas.



TRAVEL

For Christie Lee ’14 the answer is unlim-ited possibilities. Her past study abroad experience prepared her for an internship in the British Virgin Islands this summer. She managed social media accounts for Sail Caribbean, a company that provides adventures for teens. She credits her suc-cess there partly to the semester she spent in Italy during her sophomore year.

“While school in Italy is quite a stretch to compare to working in the Caribbean, the overall theme of cultural immersion is the same,” Lee says. “Once again, I arrived in a new country, alone, ready to make new friends and learn a new way of life.”

However, she says, with one international adventure behind her, she was able to ad-just to new situations more quickly and was less surprised by the lack of luxuries such as wireless Internet or easy transportation.

“Instead of seeing these as obstacles,” she says, “I embraced them more as opportu-nities to practice patience, flexibility and most of all, gratitude.”

A Growing VentureNavigating study abroad options—and then securing the necessary paper work and financial aid necessary to make one a reality—can be daunting. That’s why Baumgartner has launched an aggres-sive campaign to make sure students start thinking about their options as early as their freshman year. While students can’t participate in Stephens’ Study Abroad program until they’re at least sophomores, they need to allow themselves plenty of time to hash out the details.

Stephens has agreements with five uni-versities overseas and four study abroad program providers, allowing students to essentially study anywhere in the world.

While London is a popular destination—especially for fashion majors—students have also recently studied in South Korea, Greece, Ireland and Costa Rica. Some stu-dents even blog about their experiences. You can read them at www.stephens.edu/academics/abroad.

Hannah Dritt ’15 spent the summer at Oat-ridge College, a part of Scotland’s Rural College, after finding the opportunity with the help of Stephens equestrian faculty.

“I have always thought about going over-seas, and when I started asking about pro-grams, my teachers pointed me in the right direction,” she says.

Dritt took equestrian anatomy and eques-trian fitness—coursework she says will benefit her as she continues her studies at Stephens.

“I fully intend to use the information I learned in both my job and in my classes back home,” she says.

Knowing how overseas studies apply to a student’s field is essential, Baumgartner says. Although she’d love to see more stu-dents study abroad, Baumgartner is ada-mant that students understand why they’re going and how the experience aligns with their academics and career goals.

“They have to be clear about why they want to go,” she says. “Potential employers are going to want to know specifically what the students got out of the experience.”

In addition to the elite courses she’s tak-ing, Elliott’s cultural experiences in Lon-don are also complementing her studies back home.

“The most rewarding aspect so far has been learning fashion through a different culture,” she says. “London is so free and

nonjudgmental when it comes to fashion, which has been a complete breath of fresh air for me.”

Lee also got more than she bargained for. Sure, she wrote content for websites, worked with clients and managed media accounts, but she also learned to sail, scu-ba dive a shipwreck and pick mangos.

“I’ve found there’s so much to be learned by simply trying something new and challeng-ing the boundaries of your comfort zone,” she says.

A Cultural Perspective Studying overseas gives students new per-spectives and prepares them to work in a global society, Baumgartner says.

“The world is going to be multicultural,” she says. “When they go out to get a job, they’re not necessarily going to be work-ing with Americans. They need to know that others think differently, and you can’t teach that in a classroom.”

Experiencing a different culture—and learning about herself in the process—was amazing, Dritt says.

“I learned that I am fully capable of han-dling myself in a foreign country,” she says.

Lee—who now considers travel more of a lifestyle than a hobby—thinks cultural un-derstanding is a necessity in today’s climate.

“I am convinced that traveling is an es-sential key in the healthy development of our society today,” she says. “Under-standing and respect of our world and the different cultures that coexist within can only be fully grasped when you have per-sonally experienced a way of life beyond your own.”

TEXT

REMEMBRANCES

SPRING/SUMMER 2013 | 21

NEWS & NOTES


’20s & ’30sMary Lucille Vandevender Price ’28 of Clarinda, Iowa; March 20, 2013. Margaret Lyon Matthews ’32 of Spokane, Wash.; Jan. 23, 2013. Mary Ellen Brown Kaar ’34 of Lindenhurst, Ill.; Jan. 27, 2013. Phyllis Patrick Newby ’35 of Laguna Woods, Calif.; Dec. 12, 2012. Georgia Fay Kasischke Northway ’36 of Saginaw, Mich.; April 7, 2013. Martha Brewbaker Patterson ’37 of Loveland, Colo.; May 31, 2013. Mary Jean Trowbridge Mathis ’38 of Ames, Iowa; Dec. 25, 2012. Margaret Smith “Clissy” Oliver ’38 of Dallas; June 23, 2013. Elizabeth “Betty” Roberts Ream ’38 of Bella Vista, Ariz.; April 14, 2013. Edythe Arnold Sherman ’38 of Louisville, Ky.; March 23, 2013. Jeanette Bilney Degen ’39 of Bayport, Minn.; March 17, 2013. Phyllis Knapp Henderson ’39 of Ellettsville, Ind.; April 4,

2013. Kathleen Kieppe Strong ’39 of Stuart, Fla.; April 8, 2013. Margaret Henderson Swearengen ’32 of Monroe City, Mo.; May 3, 2012.

’40s & ’50sRuth Hewes Black ’40 of Dallas; Feb. 20, 2013. Mary Jo Brownlee Crosswell ’40 of Pottsville, Pa.; April 16, 2013. Ruth Ganz Edwards ’40 of Rockford, Ill.; April 18, 2013. Lurline Rains Mabrey ’40 of Okmulgee, Okla.; Sept. 5, 2012. Helen Townsend Reed ’40 of Newbury Park, Calif.; Feb. 17, 2013. Margaret Middleton Tyler ’40 of Oakland, Calif.; March 23, 2013. Ann Rollins Aldridge ’41 of Leland, Miss.; March 1, 2013. Virginia “Jenny Sue” Ashley ’41 of Hattiesburg, Miss.; April 3, 2013. Mary Vander Zanden Taylor ’41 of Green Bay, Wis.; March 18, 2013. Deborah “Debbie” Durbin

Watson ’41 of Arlington Heights, Ill.; June 7, 2013. Janet Metzger Dennison ’42 of Rocky River, Ohio; Sept. 6, 2011. Jane Lucas Gray ’42 of Palm Desert, Calif.; June 17, 2013. Chloris Freeman Herr ’42 of Edgewater, N.J.; June 16, 2013. Jane Benninghoven Jenkins ’42 of Fort Worth, Texas; Jan. 5, 2013. Patricia Cisle Lehmkuhl ’42 of Centerville, Ohio; June 14, 2013. June Hardy Livinghouse ’42 of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; April 12, 2012. Mary Lou Green Madigan ’42 of Tallahassee, Fla.; March 29, 2013. Mary Clark Mohr ’42 of Fogelsville, Pa.; June 7, 2013. Dorothy Jane Wilson McArthur ’43 of Macon, Ga.; May 31, 2013. Jane Mulhausen Wollenman ’43 of Fort Worth, Texas; June 1, 2013. Dorothea “Dode” Ellingson Balderston ’44 of Baker City, Ore.; April 13, 2013. Ursula Johns Gill ’44 of Houston; Feb. 21, 2013. Shirley Tucker Raitzin ’44

A “talented and gracious lady.” A “wonder-ful free spirit.” That’s how friends and fam-ily remember Sabra Eagan ’59, a renowned artist who passed away on May 22, 2013, at Heisinger Bluffs in Jefferson City, Mo.

After graduating from Stephens, Eagan began her career in fashion but decided to pursue art after taking a European vacation with her parents. She returned to Venice to learn Italian and art, studying the latter under painter-sculptor Luciano Dall’Acqua, whose own sculpture is in the Vatican Mu-seum in Rome.

According to her obituary, Eagan displayed her paintings and sculptures at 55 personal exhibits in the U.S., Europe, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. She earned 58 national and international awards and was the first Missouri painter to be official-ly recognized by the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives with a Resolu-tion of Commendation and Appreciation. In

1975, Stephens bestowed on her an Alum-nae Achievement Award; in 1994, she was named “Painter of the Year” in Rapallo, Italy; and in 2012, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jefferson City chapter of Zonta International.

Eagan’s most recent work has yet to be un-veiled. In 2005, she was commissioned to create an eight-foot Carrera marble statue of the Holy Mother for St. Mary’s Health Center in Jefferson City. A center spokes-person told the Jefferson City News Tribune that the project will continue based on Eagan’s groundwork. “Stella Maris,” Latin for Star of the Sea, will depict Mary hold-ing a five-pointed star made of Venetian blue glass.

Eagan, who is survived by several cousins, was active in the Stephens College Alum-nae Association, was a deacon at First Presbyterian Church and belonged to nu-merous social and service organizations.

In Memory Sabra Eagan ’59 created artwork that was exhibited in the U.S. and beyond.

TEXT


of South Bend, Ind.; March 2, 2013. Norma Ryan Bisagno ’45 of Mission Hills, Kan.; Feb. 18, 2013. Lucile Thorn Cox ’45 of Birmingham, Ala.; April 22, 2013. Beverly Harris Dowell ’45 of Norman, Okla.; Feb. 20, 2013. Frances Avent Grove ’45 of Sandy Springs, Ga.; April 14, 2013. Adelaide “Betty” Watson Leatherbury ’45 of Jacksonville, Fla.; May 27, 2013. Beatrice Johnson McElroy ’45 of Pulaski, Tenn.; March 29, 2013. Bettye Lou York Shira ’45 of Hamlin, Texas; May 12, 2013. Jean Trower Dierker ’46 of Harrisburg, Mo.; April 24, 2013. Shirley Anne Grigg Ellison ’46 of Richmond, Va.; June 3, 2013. Patricia Keightley Tozer ’46 of Sunset Hills, Mo.; Aug. 28, 2011. Dorothy “Dude” Douglass Cagwin ’47 of Marshalltown, Iowa; May 15, 2013. Margaret Ann Hlavacek ’47 of Bannockburn, Ill.; June 30, 2013. Sally Marsh Forte ’47 of Naples, Fla.; May

1, 2013. Gloria Williams Foster ‘47 of Valparaiso, Ind.; Feb. 19, 2013. June Deerman Caspersen ’47 of Key Largo, Fla.; March 3, 2012. Patricia Brooder Spear ’47 Sheridan, Wyo.; Jan. 12, 2013. Marilyn Olsson Walters ’47 of Gulfport, Fla.; March 3, 2013. Sevilla Swenson Dean ’48 of Scottsdale, Ariz.; June 13, 2013. Margene Branch Gerfen ’48 of Palo Alto, Calif.; Feb. 20, 2013. Helen Louise McClean ’48 of Watauga, Texas; June 14, 2013. Frances Morah Pardee ’48 of Indianapolis; March 15, 2013. Jeanne Prudhon Seymour ’48 of Altoona, Fla.; Feb. 22, 2013. Joan Prickett Soule ’48 of Hot Springs, Ariz.; April 4, 2013. Audrey Kvam Wendland ’48 of Tallahassee, Fla.; May 23, 2013. Elizabeth Beckett Dorsett ’49 of Evanston, Ill.; April 24, 2013. Barbara Donovan Gillespie ’49 of Rio Ranch, N.M.; Jan. 10, 2013. Jacquelyn Goble McCulloch ’49 of Chico, Calif.; June

17, 2013. Joan Cassell Morin ’49 of Mount Vernon, Ohio; April 29, 2013. Judith Reynolds Perper ’49 of San Marcos, Calif.; March 31, 2013. Dorothy Brockway Townsend ’49 of Henderson, Nev.; Dec. 11, 2008. Patricia Ann Brann Whaley ’49 of Port Isabel, Texas; May 30, 2013. Barbara Youngmeyer Wood ’49 of Cincinnati, Ohio; Jan. 1, 2013. Marilyn Foust Cook ’50 of Fort Worth, Texas; March 26, 2013. Jo Poindexter Dearmin ’50 of Odon, Ind.; April 19, 2013. Marjorie Redd Dunson ’50 of Atlantic Beach, Fla.; June 6, 2013. Gretchen Boldenweck Forrester ’50 of Waupun, Wis.; July 12, 2012. JoAnne Wilson Thompson ’51 of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Feb. 25, 2013. Lucy Eddins ’52 of Charlottesville, Va.; April 6, 2013. Lynette Tenney Henricks ’52 of Savannah, Ga.; Feb. 28, 2013. Nancy Dickey Ingram ’52 of Cordova, Tenn.; May 22, 2013. Elizabeth Ilg Mowery ’52

NEWS & NOTES

REMEMBRANCES

Charles Laun, who served as a professor of Natural Sciences at Stephens for 37 years until his retirement, passed away on March 29, 2013, at the age of 80.

During his tenure, Laun led numerous student trips to Africa, the Virgin Islands, Florida, Texas and Colorado. Laun doubled as a wildlife photographer on those trips.

In a 2007 interview with the Columbia Daily Tribune, Laun recalled his years at Stephens teaching everything from mammology to microbiology “and a lot of other ‘ologies’ I’ve forgotten,” he said.

Laun was born in Illinois, received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Science from the University of Wyoming. He served in the U.S Marine Corps and as a lecturer for the Audubon Society. After retirement, he volunteered with the Department of Natural Resources’ Lakes of Missouri project, monitoring area lakes, as well as Hominy Creek. His last major effort was a comprehensive history of Hinkson Creek, according to his obituary. His booklet “Attracting Wildlife in Columbia and Boone County” has been reprinted.

In 2005, the City of Columbia honored Laun as a Volunteer of the Month for his work monitoring water quality, being a Missouri Department of Conservation “Forest Keeper” and other outreach efforts.

He is survived by his wife, Jane; sons, Fritz Laun, Karl Laun and Rolf Laun; and daughter, Chelsea Laun, as well as two grandchildren.

Remembering Charles Laun Natural Sciences professor taught at Stephens for 37 years.

TEXT


NEWS & NOTES

of Lorain, Ohio; March 27, 2013. Carolyn Prey Staehle ’52 of Brevard, N.C.; Feb. 17, 2013. Alice Lawless Ballard ’53 of Greenville, S.C.; July 1, 2013. Lynette Cantrell Hendricks ’53 of Savannah, Ga.; Feb. 28, 2013. Dorothy Hill Mettes ’53 of Columbus, Ohio; April 22, 2013. Elinor Sircus Navran ’53 of Leawood, Kan.; May 23, 2013. Nancy Hammond Sample ’53 of Centennial, Colo.; March 13, 2013. Barbara Barton Toalson ’53 of Columbia, Mo.; April 10, 2013. Elizabeth Locke Clark ’55 of Kerrville, Texas; Feb. 14, 2013. Bettie Jane Perry Floyd ’55 of Jackson, Tenn.; June 4, 2013. Frances Poole Knight ’55 of Houston; May 5, 2013. Ann Webster Clemons ’56 of Melbourne, Fla.; Feb. 21, 2013. Suzan Cox Davis ’58 of Naples, Fla.; March 24, 2013. Margaret “Peggy” Craddock Huff ’58 of New Brunswick, Canada; May 7, 2013. Sabra Eagan ’59 of Jefferson City, Mo.; May 22,

2013. Sue Lynne Murdock Freeman ’59 of Mount Vernon, Wash.; June 24, 2013. Marion Sheppard Reese ’59 of Middlesboro, Ky.; June 27, 2013.

’60s & ’70sKarol Ann DeGroff Burns ’60 of Kansas City, Mo.; March 20, 2013. Carol Wilcox Stiff ’60 of Richmond, Va.; March 20, 2013. Marcia Lisle ’62 of Irvine, Calif.; Nov. 3, 2012. Jane Barksdale Dowlen ‘63 of New York; June 16, 2013. Eleanore Cole ’64 of Bellevue, Wash.; May 21, 2013. Michele McClintic Swanson ’66 of Houghton Lake, Mich.; Jan. 11, 2013. Dale Elizabeth Herbst ’67 of Kansas City, Mo.; June 17, 2013. Connie Youker ’67 of Harlingen, Texas; March 2, 2013. Suzanne Eakin Bruce ’71 of Diamondhead, Miss.; April 28, 2013. Vicki Lewis Middleton ’76 of Dallas;

July 24, 2012. Jean Bentley Cherry ’79 of Brentwood, Tenn.; March 17, 2013. Ruby Joy Sprang ’83 of White River Junction, Vt.; March 29, 2013. Cheryl Hubbard Glazebrook ’84 of Columbia, S.C.; Feb. 25, 2013. Judith Ann Burke ’92 of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; May 20, 2013.

Sue Coates of Columbia, Mo., former faculty member and first chair of the Stephens business department; June 14, 2013. Charles Laun of Columbia, Mo., former Natural Sciences professor for 37 years; March 29, 2013. Marguerite Mitchel of Nashville, Tenn., former director of the Hugh Stephens Library; Feb. 8, 2013. Jean Grace Nauert of Overland Park, Kan., former library assistant; May 6, 2013.

Before Marguerite McClelland Mitchel became Department Director of the Hugh Stephens Library at Stephens, she enjoyed a successful music career, including two seasons with the Charles Wagner Opera Company.

Mitchel passed away on Feb. 8, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn., at the age of 90.

Mitchel studied music at Louisiana State University and in 1946, represented the state in the Miss America Pageant, where she won the talent competition. When her husband, the late Fordyce Mitchel, moved the family to Nashville, Mitchel had a radio show, a television show, sang with the Symphony under the Stars program and was a soloist at Hillsboro Presbyterian. The family then relocated to Virginia, where she took the lead in operettas including “Oklahoma,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Carousel,” “The King and I” and “My Fair Lady.”

Mitchel moved to Columbia in 1966 when her husband took a position at the University of Missouri. During her tenure at Stephens, Mitchel co-led several month-long student trips to China and Japan.

In her later years, Mitchel returned to Nashville to live with her daughter. Mitchel is survived by three children, Fordyce W. Mitchel II, Magdalen Mitchel and Henry McClelland Mitchel, as well as their spouses and seven grandchildren.

In Memoriam

Former Employees of the College

Former library director Marguerite McClelland Mitchel was a talented singer before Stephens.

Stephens [from]fromLatest News, Events & Info from Stephens College

Your Source for the Latest Stephens Happenings

Read news about:Accomplished Faculty, Amazing Students, Inspiring Alumnae, Campus Spaces & And More!

Delivered every month to your inbox.

Subscribe now:email [email protected] or call (573) 876-7110.

The IRA Charitable Rollover is back!Do you have an IRA? If you do and are at least 70 ½ years old, you can take advantage of the IRA Charitable Rollover. This provision allows individuals to make distributions from their IRA accounts directly to charity.

Benefits of using the rollover:

• Contributions to charity qualify as the minimum required distribution from an IRA plan without having to include the amount in income.

• Contributions do not count as part of charitable deduction when itemizing because the amount is not included in income, so it is possible to give more than 50% of AGI.

• Money is permanently removed from your estate, thus possibly lowering estate taxes.

• If you do not itemize, the charitable gift can be made without having to pay income tax on the withdrawn amount.

Learn about our IRA Charitable Rollover provision.

Marissa ToddDirector of Alumnae Relations & Philanthropy(573) [email protected]


Kimberly Jordan’s memories are jagged—after all she was just a tot—but some are vivid. She remembers taking field trips and making butter in baby food jars. Mostly, Jordan, now 41, remembers that she was allowed to learn through exploration at the Stephens College Children’s School.

“I do remember, as a very young kid, feeling really free to be who I was,” she says from her California home. “I was able to evolve. I was able to explore.”

Although Stephens College Children’s School (SCCS) has also evolved over the decades, the philosophy of learning at SCCS has not: Field trips and tabletop experiments continue to complement classroom curricula.

“We know that children learn best when they’re exposed to a va-riety of experiences,” said Dr. Leslie Swanda Willey ’83, dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and director of the chil-dren’s school. “We teach the basics, but we also want to give them the freedom to discover.”

SCCS began in 1925 as an experimental nursery school to pro-vide college students with opportunities to have direct contact

with children. Today, the school spans through fifth grade and education majors continue work alongside professional teach-ers to get real-world experience throughout their college careers. As juniors, students participate in the Cluster Plan, which allows them to spend four weeks not only teaching, but also preparing original lesson plans.

Having an on-campus lab school has allowed Stephens to pack-age the program in a way that allows students to earn their bachelor’s in education in three years. They can then add a Mas-ter’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in an additional 13 months.

Jordan, who works in social services, was recently reminded of her SCCS days when a cousin posted an old photo from the school on Facebook. Although she’s not been back, Jordan says some of the students who attended the preschool with her have stayed in touch.

“That early foundation we got at Stephens College was definitely something we carried with us,” she says.

For more information about SCCS, visit www.stephens.edu/sccs, call (573) 876-7260 or email [email protected].

A Stephens Snapshot

Learning Beyond Limits

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Stephens CollegeCampus Box 2011Columbia, MO 65215

April 24 –26 , 2014

Join us next spring for three days of great dining, amazing entertainment and wonderful company as you reconnect with friends and classmates. We’re especially celebrating our wonderful performing arts community, so no matter

what year you graduated, you won’t want to miss this one!

Please visit www.stephens.edu/celebratestephens for the schedule and updates as we get closer to the date. Or,

if you prefer, call us at the Alumnae Relations office at (573) 876-7110 for more information and to RSVP.

Register early and save! Early Bird Reunion Registration Fee: $15

Fee after March 1, 2014: $30

Celebrating Class Years Ending in 4 & 9. Celebrating Performing Arts. Celebrating You.

beyond stephens fall 2013

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