New Members Join Board of Trustees
Eight new members of Meredith’s Board of Trustees officially began their terms of service on July 1.

 

Serving on the board for the first time are Robert Brodney, Jo Cooper, ’67, and Silda Wall Spitzer, ’80.

 

Robert Brodney is CEO of Eye Care Associates and is the father of a Meredith student. Jo Cooper, ’67, has extensive experience in government relations and politics, including work on Capitol Hill at the Environmental Protection Agency. She is a former group vice president for public policy and government/industry affairs for Toyota North America and now leads her own consulting firm. Silda Wall Spitzer, ’80, joined NewWorld Capital Group in January 2012 as principal. Prior to this position, she was a managing director at Metropolitan Capital Advisors, where she led strategic and business development.

 

Returning to the board after previous service are Betsy Porter Fritschel, ’77, Phil Kirk, David Recht, Paula Sims, and Nancy Pentacost Siska, ’76.

 

Betsy Porter Fritschel, ’77, is director of quality and compliance services at Johnson & Johnson. Phil Kirk is director of Brady Energy Services, and is a former president of North Carolina Citizens for Business & Industry, the state’s Chamber of Commerce. David Recht is CEO of S&R Communications Group, a healthcare advertising, marketing and education company based in Raleigh. Paula Sims, who is serving as vice chair of the board, has held leadership roles at Progress Energy since 1999. Nancy Pentacost Siska, ’76, is a former corporate vice president of human resources as Cargill, Incorporated.

 

Enrollment Up for Meredith College Graduate Programs
Meredith College has seen a 45% increase in the number of students interested in beginning graduate study this fall.

 

As of June 15, 2012, 75 students have enrolled in Meredith College’s graduate programs, compared to 52 students at the same time in 2011. Applications also increased this year from 216 in 2011 to 313 in 2012. Meredith offers coeducational MBA, M.A.T., M.Ed. and Master of Science in Nutrition graduate degrees.

 

Denise Rotondo, senior vice president for academic programs, believes the increase may suggest optimism about the job market 18-24 months out.

 

“Having an advanced degree in hand as employers start to pick up the pace on hiring can provide the leg up you may need to move your career ahead faster,” Rotondo said. “As the imbalance in the supply and demand for labor starts to settle, there will be growing opportunities for people who have invested in their own professional development during the economic downturn.”

Rotondo also attributes the increased interest to recent enhancements that Meredith has made to its graduate programs.

 

Meredith Student Nominated for Raleigh Little Theatre Award
Meredith College student Sarah Moore was nominated for a Raleigh Little Theatre Cantey Award.

A rising senior in music education Moore was nominated for her leading role as Polly in “The Boy Friend” by Sandy Wilson.  The Cantey Awards recognize performances from the 2011-12 season at Raleigh Little Theatre.

In this Issue:

President Allen's 1st Year at Meredith
Meet the Alumnae Legacy and Presidential Scholars
All College Planning Week Scheduled
First EREN Meeting Held at Meredith

Meredith Students Share Their Favorite Classes
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.