Alumnae Association
Welcome Back to Brearley
Dear Alums,
Before we convened for our first meeting of the academic year, the Alumnae Board toured the new library on the 10th floor of the 610 schoolhouse. Some of us felt nostalgia for dodgeball games past and the cozy reading nooks we remember from the old library. But we also felt excitement (mixed with a little envy) at seeing the cushioned bay windows and the designated "float" rooms. One wise alumna reminded us all to view these varied emotions with optimism; these are all emotions that arise when true progress has been made.
Parallel to the ongoing 610 renovations, the school will continue to undergo another type of renewal as reflected in our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Antiracism statement, as well as our new mission statement and updated strategic vision, Stepping Through the Open Door. I invite you to take a look; much of what you read may sound familiar to you. We can feel nostalgic for the Brearley that we once knew. At the same time, we can also feel excited (if also a little envious) for the critical transformation which it is currently undergoing.
In the coming year, the Alumnae Board's priority is to continue to leave room for dialogue and vulnerability through the events that we organize. We hope that alums feel reassured that, at every life stage, they can always find empathy and guidance within the Brearley community. To stay up-to-date on new developments at the school and to participate in these ongoing critical conversations, we encourage you to read official school emails, the Brearley Bulletin, and official social media, and also attend Alumnae Board events. Please contact alumnae@brearley.org to learn more, or to get involved in alum initiatives and programs.
Thank you,
Megan Lui '10
Officers
Members
Semina Mahmood
Class of 2015Kate Marshall
Class of 1976Andrea Matos
Class of 1988Helen Pennoyer
Class of 1972
To Serve Until 2025
Antonia Bryan
Class of 1963Cherise Fisher
Class of 1990Felicia Lugo Grant
Class of 1994Laura Habian
Class of 2016Megan Lui
Class of 2010Yeou-Cheng Ma
Class of 1969Sophie Waskow Rifkin
Class of 2003Julie Satow
Class of 1992Jaqueline Worth
Class of 1982Christine Yang
Class of 2017Leslie Armstrong
Class of 1958
To Serve Until 2026
Penelope August
Class of 2000Nichole Davis
Class of 2006Vasavi Devireddy
Class of 2004Chelsea Douglas
Class of 2013Christina Morales
Class of 2009
To Serve Until 2027
Agents
Notes Agents
Notes agents are responsible for reaching out to their classmates to gather and compile news and photographs that are published biannually in the Bulletin. Notes agents are also asked to help distribute select school communications and alumnae news. Contact information may be found in the Directory (password required).
Class Agents
Class agents partner with the School to raise vital funds for Brearley, serving as ambassadors among their classmates for Brearley’s Annual Fund. To find out who to contact for your class, please email development@brearley.org or call (212) 570-8625.
Committees
Plans the annual Alumnae Weekend/Reunion, including in-person and virtual events. The purpose of Alumnae Weekend is to connect generations of Brearley alumnae to the School and one another, thereby strengthening those bonds. The goal of Reunion is to provide a channel to communicate the school’s missions and goals, nurture alum-alum relationships and provide a forum for education and personal growth.
The purpose of this committee is to plan events of an artistic nature for alumnae and other interested members of the Brearley community. There is usually a Brearley connection to the event host. This committee has also organized alumnae author book discussions.
The Elder Committee reaches out to alumnae who graduated more than 40 years ago and to those who care about and for them. We hope to encourage sharing of insights, ideas and resources on how to weather the challenges and joys of aging. Events will focus on older alums, though we hope alums of all ages will join us. We are not here to impart wisdom but to explore the difficult, complex and often surprising issues that reveal themselves as the years go by. Aging is a brave new world for each of us. We want to put our heads together on what we have experienced and what may lie ahead.
The Frances Riker Davis Award recognizes an alumna who has shown outstanding community leadership.
LAB is dedicated to engaging the community at all stages of post-Brearley life to provide support, education and networking opportunities. Diverse programming is organized around life transitions (e.g., applying to graduate school, buying a home, retirement) and broad areas of personal interest or professional development (e.g., law, art, literature) and offers alums opportunities to engage with each other.
The Lois Kahn Wallace Award Committee is given to an alumna who has recently published a first book, or a book in a new genre.
The Miller Society works to strengthen the network of alumnae of African, Caribbean and Latina descent and help them remain connected to Brearley by hosting intergenerational events and supporting current students of the same background.
The purpose of this committee is to identify and research alumnae in order to present and select a yearly slate of candidates for officers and board members at large whose terms are ending.
The Parents' Association is made up of Alumnae Board members who are current parents. They serve as liaisons to the PA, keeping the Alumnae Association abreast of PA developments and events relevant to alumnae, and the PA abreast of relevant Alumnae Association activities.”
Queerly Brearley creates programming for LGBTQ+ Brearley alums. It is an explicitly gender-inclusive group, informed by the fact that queer identities and experiences are intersectional. Programming includes community events, educational speakers and affinity spaces.
The Truth and Toil Committee selects the recipient of the Truth and Toil Award, which is awarded to a living alum in honor of their service to the Brearley community, an alum who has built a sense of connection across class years and will inspire future generations of Brearley student.
The Young Alumnae Committee plans events for alumnae who have graduated within the past 15 years and provides an entry point for young alumnae eager to reconnect with Brearley. The events are focused on the interests and lives of young alums and also serve to promote networking among Brearley alumnae.
