Recently, our alumnae have talked with The Meredith Fund office about the special relationships they built with their professors. It is always a pleasure to hear alumnae share their stories and to celebrate the success of our supportive campus. We hope you enjoy these as much as we have.
           
The Meredith faculty member who made the most difference in my life was Dr. Betty Webb (Brewer). My first contact with her was freshman English class, but the main connection came three years later with the Meredith Abroad program she organized in the summer of 1987. We spent five weeks in Rüschlikon, Switzerland, and five weeks in London. She really encouraged us to get to know the local culture and to travel as much as possible on the weekends. She even gave us tips for where to go out in Zürich. It was there, in fact, that I met my future husband and have now enjoyed the past 20 years of my life! Over the years we have sporadically met up with each other in Raleigh and in Switzerland. I thank her for literally broadening my horizons and opening my mind!
 
Jennifer Vick Catellani
Richterswil, Switzerland
Class of 1988
 
 
 As I reflect on my time as a student at Meredith, there are many staff members whom I cherish. When I think about a professor who has inspired me, Dr. Jane Gleason of the Education Department comes to mind. Dr. Gleason was someone who tapped into my own interest in elementary mathematics and desire to become a teacher and challenged me to perform to my highest potential. In addition to Dr. Gleason’s inspiration to me as my professor, she has displayed her sincere, caring attitude to me as a friend.
 
The Class of 1998 suffered the loss of one of our beloved classmates. I will never forget Dr. Gleason’s care and concern by providing project deadline extensions, time to grieve with others during class and phone calls to my dorm room just to let me know she cared. Dr. Gleason followed me as I accepted my first teaching job with the Wake County Public School System. She kept in touch with me and even had me fill in for her as a guest instructor in her subsequent Math Methods courses. A sincere outpouring of Dr. Gleason’s sincerity for me was shown when she traveled an hour and half to attend my wedding. While Dr. Gleason and I are not as in touch as we once were, we continue to exchange Christmas card greetings each year. It is people like Dr. Gleason that make Meredith such a special place to call home – a place where memories are born and can be revisited year after year.”
 
Candace Whitehurst Lehew
Raleigh, NC
Class of 1998
 
 
“I had the privilege of having Dr. Carolyn Happer for three history classes and serving as a senior research advisor. She is a phenomenal professor. I credit her with helping me to become a stronger writer and enhancing my presentation skills. Not only did she encourage me inside of the classroom but she pushed me to be active in the Meredith community and make my mark on-campus. While this is just one reason, I give to Meredith because I want students to have wonderful experiences like I did and make their "mark" on-campus and later in the work force and community.”

 

Katie Nagel
Raleigh, NC
Class of 2010
 
 
Phonathon Room Gets Makeover
By Brandon Stokes
           
One way that alumnae from all over the country stay connected to the campus is through the Meredith Phonathon, which is staffed by more than twenty student callers. Many alumnae and former and current staff members remember how the Mae Grimmer Alumnae House used to look, and they have tracked its renovations and changes over the years. Perhaps the newest improvement is the redesigning of the second floor of the Alumnae House, which is used as the call center for Phonathon. Formerly and quite fittingly referred to as "the attic," this area has seen the removal of numerous boxes, file cabinets, and many long lost treasures to make room for the students who work in the space five days a week throughout the academic year.

 

Students and officers of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) donated their time and talent for an entire weekend to paint, design and leave their mark on the Alumnae House. In addition to adding much-needed color to a drab space, they creatively recycled old Meredith Magazines to be used as covers to the tables.

 

 

On behalf of The Meredith Fund and Institutional Advancement, we would like to especially thank Mitch Bryan and Travis Plush in Facilities Services for their help in moving the enormous cabinets around, Martha Fonville in Archives for making room and graciously accepting so many of those aforementioned treasures, and the students of ASID. The tables look outstanding. This project could not have been done without all of you, and we thank you all very much.

 

In this Issue:

Faculty Distinguished Lecture
Meredith Receives duPont Fund Grant to Support Research Mentoring
Update on the Presidential Search
Meredith Welcomes New Vice President for Business & Finance
Alumnae Treasure Campus Relationships /Phonathon Room Gets Redesign
Faculty/Staff Accomplishments
Upcoming Events
News Briefs

 

Have you presented research or attended a professional meeting recently? Has your department earned an award? Share news of these accomplishments and more with the Meredith community. Faculty and staff are invited to email items to Melyssa Allen, “Campus Connections” editor, at allenme@meredith.edu.