Photo by Eric Jacobs

If you ever wondered what your Alumnae Association does beyond hosting reunion and publishing this magazine, take a look. The fall semester was a happy whirlwind of events on campus and off—all fulfilling the WCAA’s mission of connecting alumnae to each other and to the College.

The Inauguration of Paula Johnson

The WCAA was actively involved in the planning and execution of the inauguration of Wellesley’s 14th president in September. The Alumnae Association gathered nearly 70 class delegates to march in the academic procession, organized an alumnae panel discussion about feminism, and sponsored a reception for alumnae after the festivities.

Photo by Ilyssa Green Frey

Connecting with Students

The WCAA helps keep the flame of Wellesley traditions burning bright and cultivates student involvement throughout the year. Here, the class of ’20 learns the ropes at the first Stepsinging of the year in August, many of them wearing class hats provided by the Alumnae Association.

Photo by Richard Howard

Alumnae Leadership Council

Nearly 200 volunteer leaders returned to campus in October for Alumnae Leadership Council (ALC). During the weekend, they attended training sessions on topics ranging from how to plan club events to how to write class notes or organize a class reunion. Delegates also heard updates from President Paula Johnson, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Joy St. John, and Associate Provost and Executive Director of Career Education Christine Cruzvergara.

Photo by Ilyssa Green Frey

Alumnae Achievement Awards

One of the centerpieces of a Very Wellesley Weekend in October—which included Family & Friends Weekend, ALC, and the Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony—was the Alumnae Achievement Awards. Sponsored by the WCAA, the awards are Wellesley’s highest honor. The 2016 recipients—shown here, seated with Wellesley President Paula Johnson while WCAA President Georgia Murphy Johnson ’75 spoke—were Marian Fox Burros ’54, Maria Morris Hambourg ’71, and Debra Knopman ’75. (Click here for more about the recipients.)

Photo by Ilyssa Green Frey

Election Night

Alumnae Association representatives were part of a campus-wide team that organized the election watch event on Nov. 8, drawing more than 3,000 alumnae from all over the world. Tapping expertise honed at reunion, one WCAA staffer organized food and drink for multitudes.

Photo by Erik Jacobs

At Home for Thanksgiving

The WCAA connected 47 students with 32 families of local alumnae and College staff for home-cooked Thanksgiving meals. “Thank you for once again organizing the Thanksgiving match,” wrote one alumna. “We’ve been doing it since 2013 …. One of the women who came that first year has come every year since and has become a close friend of our family.”

Photo by Elizabeth Demski

Presidential Travels

The Alumnae Association provided logistical support for President Johnson’s visits to alumnae clubs around the world. In London in November (shown here), Wellesley College trustee Maryam Homayoun-Eisler ’89 and the Wellesley Club UK hosted her for afternoon tea at London’s Institute of Contemporary Art. Club visits during the fall semester also included New York and Boston. For information about Johnson’s second-semester travels, see the sidebar.