Coming Home to Wellesley

Greetings from Green Hall! I’m writing on the last day of classes for seniors—it has been such a treat to see them walking across campus in their robes, taking photos with friends in Harris Courtyard outside our office, and soaking in their final moments as students in the midst of spring’s beautiful blooms. I’m looking forward to welcoming this green class as the newest members of the Wellesley College Alumnae Association.

I am thrilled to return to campus as the assistant vice president for alumnae relations and global engagement, and I’m eager to get to know and work with you as I settle into the role. This is an exciting moment for Wellesley—the WCAA is almost a year into our formal merger with the College, and we are about to kick off the celebration of Wellesley’s 150th anniversary. What an honor to have the opportunity to reflect on our incredible history, while also looking forward to the amazing new paths and connections that lie ahead. I’ve been moved by the call to harness our unparalleled alumnae network at the intersection of nostalgia and innovation, and there is no better moment than our sesquicentennial. (Speaking of which, please consider ordering the College’s new book, Now & Ever: 150 Years of Making a Difference, edited by the WCAA’s own Lisa Scanlon Mogolov ’99, to learn more about our remarkable alumnae throughout the decades.)

In my first few months back at the College, I’ve seen time and again how devoted our alumnae are to each other, to our students, and to the faculty and staff that make Wellesley the remarkable place it has been since 1875. I know our alumnae have been closely engaged in the developments regarding the negotiations between the College and the union representing non-tenure-track faculty; as we went to press, the union had entered mediation with the College over its contract. We all have a common goal of doing everything we can to keep Wellesley the place we cherish, particularly during challenging moments like this, when community is more important than ever. I am looking forward to working together, united by our commitment to our alma mater and women who will make a difference in the world.

Before taking on this role, I often found myself humming “Wellesley, Wellesley, only to be there” in tough moments, and a glimpse of Lake Waban or echoes of my friends’ laughter in Tower Court would come to mind. It is grounding to once again find myself “there,” and I hope to find new ways to bring a piece of this home to all of you, wherever you are.