Music Professor Releases New CD
By Kristen Scott, '05

Professor of Music and Coordinator of Vocal Studies Ellen Williams has recently released her second CD, titled "Grand Larsen-Y: The Music of Libby Larsen."


Having been at Meredith for 12 years, Williams has many responsibilities, including coordinating auditions for incoming students, facilitating weekly voice repertoire classes and being in charge of arranging juries at the end of each semester for voice majors.

Williams also teaches private voice lessons and a number of music courses at Meredith. In 2003-04, Williams taught voice literature, which included French repertoire, and undergraduate pedagogy classes, as well as master classes.

Williams most enjoys the one-on-one work she does with students. Being able to "work with a student for four years and to see her from the very beginning of her vocal studies to the end product, which is the graduating recital, is very rewarding," said Williams. "It is a real journey that you go on with them. It is a real gift to get to know someone that well."

Williams, a Meredith alumna, said she returned to Meredith because of the small size of the college and for the opportunity to make a difference. "This is such a special place," Williams says.

After graduating from Meredith in 1972, Williams continued her education at the New England Conservatory, receiving a master's degree in music. Williams furthered her study by attending Florida State University, receiving her doctorate in music.

In 1988, she first sang with her duet partner, Terry Rhodes, a music professor at UNC-Chapel Hill. Williams' first CD, "To Sun, To Feast And To Converse," focused on 20th-century American music and was comprised of duets with Rhodes. Pianist Benton Hess accompanied this CD, as well as their new CD.

For the second CD, this trio drew inspiration from the music of American female composer Libby Larsen. Williams first met Larsen two years ago when Larsen came to Meredith for a week in residency.

"She inspired us," says Williams.

"Grand Larsen-Y: The Music of Libby Larsen" is a compilation of both old and new interpretations of Larsen's music. This CD also includes solo pieces from Williams and Rhodes as well as duets.

"She is a very prolific, important woman composer in the U.S. right now," says Williams.

Along with the release of her CD, Williams is involved with Capital Opera Company, a new program that provides community opera theater. The opera company's next performances, of Mozart's Don Giovanni will be June 10-12 in Jones Auditorium. Williams will also be performing in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) convention in July in New Orleans, La. She is one of the 18 performers chosen for this year's convention.

Williams' second CD is available at Quail Ridge Books and on Amazon.com.

Bonnie Torgerson Award Presented to Meredith Graduates

Crystal Canady, '03, of Zebulon, and Angela King, '04, of Kinston, are recipients of the 2004 Bonnie Torgerson Award from the Meredith College School of Education.

They received the award at a School of Education dinner held May 5 on the Meredith College campus.

Parents whose children had been taught by Torgerson established the Bonnie Torgerson Award, following her retirement from the Wake County Public School System.

The award goes to a K-6 intern who exemplifies the creative teaching and passion demonstrated by Torgerson in her career. Torgerson still teaches as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Education at Meredith. The cash award is intended for buying educational materials to set up the intern's first classroom.

Along with the honorees and their parents, the dinner was attended by Torgerson, Linda Hubbard, dean of the School of Education, Cornelius Swart, college supervisor for Canady, Julie Schrock, college supervisor for King, School of Education faculty Beth Weir and Tricia Willoughby, and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Garry Walton. Walton was one of the founders of the Bonnie Torgerson Award.

Meredith Student Earns Award from N.C. Psychological Association



Meredith College senior Erika Snitzer, of Raleigh, received first place honors in the North Carolina Psychological Association's undergraduate student research competition. The competition was held during the association's spring meeting.

Meredith students have placed either first or second in this competition each of the last three years.

Snitzer's research presentation was titled "The Role of Spatial Frequency in the Recognition of Emotional Facial Expressions." This study examined spatial frequency and visual fields and their role in the recognition of emotional facial expressions. Her faculty sponsors for this project were Mark O'DeKirk, assistant professor of psychology, David Heining-Boynton, professor of psychology, and Cindy Edwards, associate professor of psychology.

Snitzer is majoring in psychology and pre-art therapy. She will graduate in December 2004.

The North Carolina Psychological Association, a professional organization designed to serve the interests of psychologists in North Carolina, is the state affiliate of the American Psychological Association.

Meredith College Alumnae Association Presents Annual Awards

As part of Alumnae Reunion Weekend, the Meredith College Alumnae Association presented awards to five alumnae.

Distinguished Alumna Award
The Distinguished Alumna Award was presented to Doris Allen Litchfield, '54, and to Claire Sullivan, '72. Established in 1968, the Distinguished Alumna Award is given to an alumna who has demonstrated extraordinary accomplishments in her career, service to Meredith and service to her community.

Doris Allen Litchfield graduated cum laude from Meredith with a degree in religion. Litchfield's career has included teaching in Chowan County public schools, serving as director of Christian education at churches including Saint Paul United Methodist (Goldsboro), Saint Michael's Episcopal (Raleigh), Queen Street United Methodist (Kinston) and at Edenton Street United Methodist (Raleigh). She also served as director of alumnae relations at Meredith from 1987-1992, and as activities director at Springmoor Retirement Community from 1992-1996. In addition serving as alumnae director, Litchfield's contributions to Meredith College include being alumnae office secretary from 1957-58, and as the class agent for her class's 50th reunion. She is also active in the community, including participating in Church Women United, on the board of the Interfaith Alliance of Wake County, as co-circle leader of the United Methodist Women, and in a variety of roles at Edenton Street United Methodist Church.

Claire Sullivan, former president of the Meredith College Alumnae Association, holds a Bachelor of Arts in history. Sullivan's own history with Meredith College goes much further back; she is the daughter of Jane W. Sullivan, '46, a former member of Meredith's music faculty. Claire Sullivan's sisters, Ayn Sullivan Cole, and Louise Sullivan Peters, and her daughter Chatham Fralix are Meredith alumnae; her daughter Jane Langford is a member of the class of 2006. Sullivan earned a Master of Arts degree in history from Seton Hall University in 1974, and now works in the insurance field for BenPro, Inc., located in Raleigh, N.C. Serving as president of the Meredith College Alumnae Association is just one way that Sullivan has served her alma mater. She is a past member of the College's Board of Associates, a former class agent and a former member of the Meredith Housing Committee. She is now a member of the Alumnae Association board of directors and of the Alumnae Legacy Scholarship Campaign Committee.

Career Achievement Award
The Career Achievement Award was presented to Gwendolyn Pickelsimer Davis, '62, and to Patricia Nathan, '74. Established in 2002, this award is given to a Meredith alumna who has dedicated herself to excellence in her profession and has distinguished herself by notable achievement over a continual period of time.

Gwendolyn Pickelsimer Davis graduated from Meredith with honors, earning a degree in business with minors in mathematics and economics. In 1963 Davis returned to Meredith as an accounting clerk in the accounting office. In January 1971, she joined the College Foundation, Inc. (CFI) as a loan officer. During her career, she has served CFI as director of loan administration, program administrator, program director, director of resource management, chief operating officer, vice president and corporate secretary, senior vice president and chief administrative officer. In 1993, Davis was named president and chief executive officer and held that position until January 2004. Davis will serve CFI in a consulting role until her retirement in July 2004.

During her 33 years at the College Foundation, Inc., Davis also served on numerous boards such as the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NCASFAA), the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP), the College Board and the Student Loan Servicing Alliance (SLSA). She is also an active member in the Raleigh community by serving on the Board of Directors of Preservation North Carolina, the Brentwood Scholarship Committee and the 4-H Clubs of North Carolina Scholarship Committee.

Patricia Nathan, '74, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. She is a member of the first Meredith class able to earn Bachelor of Science degrees. After earning her master's degree in statistics at North Carolina State University she pursued a career in the growing technology industry. She has held positions in procurement, engineering and quality. She worked at Data General Corporation for 14 years before she joined Dell Computer Corporation as their director of quality in sales and then as vice president of customer loyalty in 1995. Nathan is now vice president for diversity at Dell.

Nathan actively attends reunions and supports the Meredith Fund. She is a strong advocate for educating and encouraging young girls to pursue a career in the mathematics and science fields. Currently living in Windsor, England, Nathan founded the first European chapters of Women in Technology International (WITI) in England and Ireland. She is now a WITI board member, a Dell Sponsor for Duke University and an executive sponsor for the Dell MBA Recruiting Program.

Alumnae Philanthropy Award
The Alumnae Philanthropy Award was presented to Cleo Glover Perry, '45.

Established in 1994, the Alumnae Philanthropy Award is given to Meredith alumnae who have demonstrated commitment to Meredith through involvement in the life of the college and through exemplary philanthropy.

Perry graduated cum laude from Meredith College in 1945, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology.

From 1945 until 1975 she was a high school teacher in the Wake County Public School System. Perry's service to Meredith College includes serving as associate director of alumnae affairs from 1975-76, and then as director of alumnae affairs from 1976-1986. She is a past president of the Alumnae Association and has served on the College's alumnae board of directors and board of associates. In 1987, she was presented the Meredith College distinguished alumna award. In 1989, a classroom was dedicated in recognition of her service to Meredith, and in 1999, she was included among 100 outstanding Meredith alumnae in the Park Center mural.

Perry is an active member of Zebulon Baptist Church, teaching Sunday school classes for more than 25 years. She has also been an active member serving in leadership roles of the Zebulon Woman's Club, and North Carolina Federation of Women's Clubs (NCFWC) and the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC). In 1990 she was named the NCFWC Outstanding Clubwoman of the North Carolina, received the honorary life membership award from the organization in 1991, and received the Juanita Bryant Citizenship Award from the GFWC-NC in 1997.

For more information on the Meredith College Alumnae Association, visit www.meredith.edu/alumnae/.

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