Spring 2024, Volume 49, Number 1
Forever Strong
First Alumna President Jo Allen, ’80, Leaves Powerful LegacyBy Gaye Hill, Emily Parker, and Melyssa Allen
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Features
Designing Women
Five Interior Design Students Use Their Talent to Help Others
By Emily Parker
At the opening night of the Green Chair Project “Chairity” event in September 2023, five interior design students were surrounded by a beautiful space they designed. They saw exquisitely designed vignettes and had the opportunity to network with donors and other designers. Most importantly, these students knew they were helping support families in need in Wake County.
Mad Hatters, Myths, and Meredith
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at 100 Years of Alice in Wonderland
By Betsy Rhame-Minor, ’01
A Cheshire cat, a caterpillar smoking on a mushroom, a mad tea party, clever wordplay, and a little girl who navigates this strange world. To some, these bring to mind a childhood story and film adaptations. To those in the Meredith community, these mean much more.
News
By Gaye Hill
Meredith students are now producing a biweekly show from the news studio in the Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences (CHESS) building.
Meredith College President Jo Allen has been invited to serve a one-year appointment as the senior advisor and President in Residence at the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC).
By Rocio Antelis
Meredith College hosted the North Carolina Association on Higher Education and Disability’s (NC AHEAD) annual conference, Equity & Excellence: Access in Higher Education, on October 9-10, 2023.
Alumnae Business Directory
Are you a Meredith alumna who owns a business? The Office of Alumnae Relations is seeking to provide the Meredith community with a list of STRONG alumnae business owners from all over the country in a wide variety of industries.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology Program Celebrates Five Years
By Rocio Antelis
The industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology master’s program is celebrating five years at Meredith College. Since its launch, the number of applications per year has increased from 16 to 30-45. In total, 50 students have completed the degree. The program has a remarkable employment rate with 97% of graduates securing I-O-related jobs within six months of graduation. Many graduates have gone on to pursue careers at prestigious organizations such as Amazon, Butterball, Cisco, UNC-Chapel Hill, WakeMed, and more.
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College welcomed more than 350 students to “share, learn, and celebrate dance” as part of the High School Day of Dance.
By Rocio Antelis
Amy Schroeder, ’24, MBA, and her two children, Jack, ’26, MBA, and Jenna, ’24, ’25 (MBA), are all pursuing a Master in Business Administration from Meredith College.
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College has finalized a new articulation agreement with NC State that provides priority admission into Meredith’s Master of Science in Nutrition–Accelerated Dietitian Nutritionist Track (MS-ADNT) for up to four qualified NC State nutrition science undergraduate students.
By Rocio Antelis
In May 2021, Meredith College received a grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations to support Cultivating Equitable and Inclusive Pedagogical Practices in STEM Higher Education, a three-year project that aims to create fully inclusive and equity-based STEM programs at Meredith.
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College hosted an event for Project Plasma on October 4, in observance of International Plasma Awareness Week 2023.
Shop the Meredith Market!
Show your Meredith pride and see what is new in the Meredith Market!
To order online, please visit meredithmarket.com.
Meredith Experts in the news
Meredith College experts have recently been featured in media outlets including the Associated Press, Newsweek, Winston-Salem Journal, NC Newsline, and Politico.
Professor of History Gregory Vitarbo was one of the historians asked by Newsweek to predict whether the war between Russia and Ukraine is likely to end in 2024. The story, “Will Ukraine War End in 2024? Experts Weigh In,” was published on December 28, 2023.
Associate Professor of Political Science Jeff Martinson was quoted in an Associated Press article about the United Nations General Assembly. “Behind all the speechmaking at the UN lies a basic, unspoken question: Is the world governable?” was published on September 21, 2023.
Hospitality and Tourism Management Program Director and Instructor Michael Altman was interviewed by the Winston-Salem Journal for an article titled “Vacation complication: Climate change a growing factor in travel.” Altman noted that changing climate conditions are affecting tourism in places where weather has been a draw. The article was published in September 2023.
Professor of Political Science David McLennan was interviewed about the September 2023 edition of the Meredith Poll by a variety of media outlets. The poll, which asked North Carolina voters who they planned to vote for in upcoming political primaries, was covered by WRAL, WNCN, NC Newsline, and Politico.
Strong Stories
Jillian Jackson, ’25
Building the Skills to Overcome Obstacles
Photo courtesy of Perry Vaile Adams
“When I started at Meredith, I was planning to major in biology. Since middle school, I thought pursuing a career in STEM was what I needed to do. During my first year at Meredith, however, I was struggling to grasp the course material and slowly started to realize I was unfulfilled in studying biology.
I expressed an interest in event planning to my freshman faculty advisor, the late Tim Hendrix. He encouraged me to register for an event planning course that had just been added to the hospitality and tourism management program.”
Show Your Pride with a Meredith License Plate
It is a great way for North Carolina drivers to show their Meredith pride wherever they drive and to promote the College to future angels!
Making an Impact.
Alumnae Connection
Save the Date • May 17-19, 2024
Alumnae Reunion Weekend
Join us on campus in May to relive your Meredith Days! All alumnae are invited to attend Alumnae Reunion Weekend, and classes ending in a four or nine will be celebrating a special class reunion.
By Rocio Antelis
From a young age, Kenya Lawrence, ’07, sought out opportunities to teach. As early as junior high, she would tutor elementary students. In high school, she mentored middle schoolers through the Breakthrough Collaborative program and volunteered as a summer camp counselor.
By Rocio Antelis
Christina Saraceno, ’17, was raised to believe she could do anything if she set her mind to it. Saraceno was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth, which has led to her using a wheelchair as the disability affects her four limbs and balance. Because of her diagnosis, many individuals have doubted her ability to achieve her goals. Saraceno has never let that deter her.
Meredith Magazine
Volume 49, Number 1
Spring 2024
Kristi Eaves-McLennan, '14, MBA
Executive Editor
Melyssa Allen
Managing Editor
Gaye Hill
Assistant Editor
Emily Parker
Writer
Vanessa Harris
Art Director
Katie Bryant, '07
Senior Graphic Designer
Charlotte Claypoole McKinney
Videographer and Photographer
Liza Bunce
Web Designer and Developer
Rocio Antelis
Writer
Hilary Allen, '01
Alumnae Connection Editor
Homepage Photographs by:
Kristi Eaves-McLennan, ’14, MBA
Christopher Ferrer
Flyboy Photo & Media
Matthew Lester Photography
Vi McDonald Media
Charlotte Claypoole McKinney
Michelle Renee Photography
Kaylin Tsukayama
Meredith College Students, Faculty & Staff
Kristi Eaves-McLennan, ’14, MBA
Executive Editor
Melyssa Allen
Managing Editor
Gaye Hill
Assistant Editor
Emily Parker
Writer
Hilary Allen, ’01
Alumni Connection Editor
Vanessa Harris
Art Director
Charlotte Claypoole McKinney
Videographer and Photographer
Katie Bryant, ’07
Senior Graphic Designer
Liza Bunce
Web Designer and Developer
Rocio Antelis
Writer
Homepage Photographs by:
Kristi Eaves-McLennan, ’14, MBA
Christopher Ferrer
Flyboy Photo & Media
Matthew Lester Photography
Vi McDonald Media
Charlotte Claypoole McKinney
Michelle Renee Photography
Kaylin Tsukayama
Meredith College Students, Faculty & Staff