Wellesley College Class of 2006

Submit Class Notes by April 29th

2011-04-11T21:45:00.002-05:00

It's that time again to submit class notes for the alumnae magazine. Send a short update about what you're up to or any adventures you've had since graduation to 2006notes@alum.wellesley.edu. Please submit any notes by Friday, April 29th. These notes will be for the summer issue of the Wellesley magazine.

This is a special set of notes for me since this is my last set of notes I'll be writing as your class secretary! It's been a fun journey and an amazing way to keep in touch with so many of you!

Best,

Kate

Participate in the Record Book

2011-02-18T16:13:00.003-05:00

From Sandya Das, Record Book Chair:

Hello Class of 2006ers!

Our online record book is ready for your input!

In December, I introduced the idea of an online record book to share updates on our class' lives, careers, hobbies, and travels. Now until March 31st is your opportunity to submit a brief paragraph on what's happening in your lives and take a fun survey on our class' profile.

We are requesting a $6 donation for your participation in the record book. Those who participate will have access to an electronic copy of the record book and be able to read their classmates' updates. You don't have to attend Reunion to participate. However, you will not be able to receive a copy of the record book if you do not register and submit a personal entry.

Everyone's participation is key for this record book to be a success. This is the chance to reconnect with your Wellesley classmates and find out what lives they lead. We all have a story to tell so let's share it on paper and add a couple of pictures!

Please sign in to http://wellesley06.reuniontechnologies.com/login.asp, using your alumnae online Community username and password, and start your personal paragraph today.

My fantastic team with Alex Lee and Jessica Goldman will compile all of your entries as you submit them. The sooner you log on, the faster we can produce the book for you. If all runs to plan, the book will be ready well before our Reunion in June.

Thanks again for your participation and looking forward to putting this book together!

Sandya
Record Book Chair
Class of 2006

Submit Class Notes by February 27th

2011-02-13T22:27:00.003-05:00

It's that season again! Submit your class notes to wellesley2006@gmail.com by February 27th. Just a few sentences about either what your doing now or what you've been doing since the almost five years since we graduated. (Five years! It makes me feel old, too...)

Reunion Registration is Open!

2011-02-01T14:25:00.004-05:00

The countdown has started -- our first reunion is in just four months, June 3-5, 2011! Check your inbox for the registration notice today. You can also see the schedule and register online here.

Highlights include:

Saturday class tea with Diana Chapman Walsh
Saturday class BBQ
Kanye-inspired purple sunglasses

Hope to see you there!

Constitutional Amendment - Please Vote Online!

2011-01-09T21:22:00.001-05:00

This summer, Wellesley's Alumnae Association undertook an extensive review the class constitution and has urged classes to vote in a series of changes. The 2006 Executive Board has reviewed these changes, and is putting the proposed constitution to a class vote.

The main change would alter the Class of 2006's process for electing new officers. The proposed amendment would allow the nominating committee to select final candidates for the executive offices of the class. The current constitution stipulates that all officers, namely the slate selected by the nominating committee, "shall be elected at the class meeting at Reunion or at a special meeting called by the executive board."

Please take a minute to review and vote on the proposed changes here. It's survey monkey, so it only takes a second. Votes will be accepted for 30 days and 2/3 of total votes cast must favor the amendment for the new constitution to be adopted.

Help Create Our Online Record Book

2011-01-06T10:36:00.003-05:00

From Sandya Das, Record Book Chair:

Hello Class of 2006!

We've kick started our Reunion plans this year and I am excited to be your record book chair. We will create an online record book for all of us to share updates on our lives, where we live, our new jobs, and our interests in the last five years. Please stay tuned for another update in January on submitting your entries online. In the meantime, please let me know if you are interested in helping me with this online endeavor. I would love to work with you! Looking forward to seeing you all for Reunion in June!

Fall 2010 Class Newsletter

2010-11-20T14:02:00.003-05:00

Check your mailbox for the latest class newsletter, also included below:

Reunion Update
from Katie Landise, Reunion Chair

As you all now know, our first reunion is coming up! The dates for reunion are June 3 -5, 2011, and we hope to see you all there. Things to keep in mind as reunion nears:

An approximate cost (based on last year's pricing) is $275 per person to attend all meals/events at reunion. It is now about 60 days until early registration opens in February, so if you skip your daily Starbucks and save just $4.60 per day, you can pay for reunion in full by early registration!
As the holidays approach, consider setting aside a small financial gift for your class to apply towards the Spirit Fund - these gifts will allow classmates to apply for financial aid for reunion, letting those who are coming from afar have a better chance of attending!
Reunion planning is now in full swing, with the majority of decisions being made by December 1, 2010. If you have any desire to assist any of the current committee members in their roles as reunion nears, e-mail me (katie.landise@gmail.com) and I will work to connect you with them on an as-needed basis.
Make sure to contribute to the Record Book as Sandya Das, Record Book Chair, contacts you for information. Look to receive the Record Book at reunion!

Let's try to get a great turnout together for reunion - the Class of 2005 only had about 175 people attend, and we are hoping to outdo them! Call your friends, start coordinating carpools, and we'll see you all in Bates Hall in June!

Class Council Elections Update
from Kelly Sheridan, Nominating Chair

I hope that the fall season is treating you well. The Nominating Committee has decided to extend the November 1 deadline to December 1 in order to fill the remaining class positions of President and Treasurer. Descriptions of each of these roles can be found at the following website:
http://www.wellesley.edu/Alum/Volunteer/Docs/Class_execboardpositions.pdf

To be considered for a position, e-mail me your name at kelly.a.sheridan@gmail.com. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Class Treasury Update
from Katherine Adams, Treasurer

Hello 2006ers! Reunion is around the corner, which means it is a great time to donate to our class. The two ways to give to the class are life memberships and annual dues. Life membership dues are invested with the College’s endowment; our class receives the income generated from the investment. Thanks so much to our current life members.

Class dues support the activities of the class and will provide seed money for our upcoming reunion. All class dues are tax deductible. They do not count as gifts to the College, unlike donations made through Annual Giving.

Annual dues are $20.00. Life membership dues are $200.00. You can either donate securely via Google Checkout (information here: http://wellesley2006.blogspot.com/2009/10/pay-your-dues-securly-via-google.html) or the old fashioned way, by sending a check to the address below. If you have any questions, please contact me at kadams@alum.wellesley.edu.

Thank you for your support!

If you prefer to pay by check, please email wellesley2006@gmail.com for directions on how to pay by check.

"Lost" Classmates
from the Alumnae Association

The alumnae association does not have updated contact information for the following classmates:

Sandra Ahn, Cynara Cannatella, Bora Choi, Violette Corgnati, Caterina del Conte, Emily Henderson, Kathy Kim, Natalya Krimgold, Chiara Magana Roesch, Valerie Magolan, DongYoun Park, Makeda Ricketts

If you have current contact information for one of these classmates, please send it to wellesley2006@gmail.com, or ask her to update her information on the W Network. Alternatively, if the classmate would rather not be contacted by Wellesley for class or reunion information, please let us know that, too.

Classmate Spotlight- Nandita Dinesh
from Amita Parashar and Kate Derrick

Classmate Nandita Dinesh has spent the last few years living and working on community theater projects in Rwanda, India, and Mexico. As an Economics and Theater major at Wellesley, Nandita became interested in the role that arts and culture play in the development of nations and people. After graduation, Nandita moved to Rwanda to begin working on community theater projects there, and at the end of 2008, moved to India to do similar work in Nagaland, as well as Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Nandita, "In one sense, the idea is to work in places that are in or are coming out of violent conflict and understand how theater might play a part in the reconstruction process." She looks at how theater can be used as a response to conflict, and how it can be used in public space for action and intervention, and how audience/actor interactions can play a part in these goals. She also hopes to create more intercultural experiences between Latin America, Africa, and Asia. She notes that while the countries have a strong focus on improving European and US relations, they don't focus on relating to other nations with similar social contexts. "It's as if we (in India) have nothing to learn from Rwanda because Rwanda is in Africa and its also a 'third world' nation. My search, then, is to create these connections through the realm of the arts."

Submit Class Notes by November 28th

2010-11-14T20:10:00.004-05:00

The time has come again to submit class notes! Send a quick update (it doesn't have to be more than a sentence or two or three) to 2006notes@alum.wellesley.edu. To be included in notes in the Winter 2011 edition of the alumnae magazine, submit your notes by Sunday, November 28th.

Profile of the Current Purple Class

2010-11-13T10:17:00.004-05:00

The Alumnae Association created a short profile of the Class of 2014 (also a purple class), the largest class ever enrolled at Wellesley. (And it also does that intimidating "Here's who your classmates are..." thing- remember that from your acceptance letter?)

The profile also discusses the housing crunch faced at Wellesley this year, which has been a challenge for the students and the school.

Check it out here.

Quidditch Comes To Wellesley

2010-11-02T09:26:00.004-05:00

via Wellesley Townsman, read the full article here:

At first, it was kind of hard to master the peculiarities of the sport they said. "It’s hard to run with the brooms but you get used to it," Merrill said.

And then, there were the injuries. “It’s a very physically dangerous sport,” said Cat Zhwang, a junior. “Brooms end up in your face and people accidentally grab you.”

From 2006 Nominating Chair, Kelly Sheridan

2010-10-11T21:30:00.000-05:00

Class of 2006!

There are just a few short months until our reunion and we are still looking to fill the class officer positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Please visit the website below for complete descriptions of these positions.
http://www.wellesley.edu/Alum/Volunteer/Docs/Class_execboardpositions.pdf

Class officers provide an important service to Wellesley College and to our class. We are looking for individuals who can keep our class engaged and connected. Please contact me at Kelly.A.Sheridan@gmail.com if you have any questions about the positions or the nomination process. I will be accepting nominations until November 1, 2010.

Best wishes,

Kelly Sheridan
Nominating Chair

Book: Food Heroes

2010-08-30T16:32:00.005-05:00

Food Heroes: 16 Culinary Artisans Preserving Tradition

by Georgia Pellegrini '03 | 240 pp. Abrams. $24.95.

A shoutout to '03, and an alumna some of you may know -- Georgia Pellegrini -- which profiles sixteen foodies around the world.

Here's an excerpt from her blog that describes the book:

The pace of rural life in the south of France was an exercise in extreme patience for someone who had the current of New York City coursing through her veins. I lived in a run-down house crowded with frogs and cobwebs set back into a deep field along the Rhône river. I slept under a tablecloth I took from the restaurant and woke to the sulfur smell of the marsh every morning, a particular Camargue charm that I never did get used to. My head spun with French words, the French language a thousand little dots in my head, which connected at random moments, while rolling out pasta dough or pulling heads off sardines.

As I worked in all of these restaurants I found that I was much more interested in the people who came to the kitchens to drop off their goods, than I was peeling and deseeding grapes with a paper clip. I often befriended these people and when I had a free day, would visit them at their olive oil vineyards, or in their farm that housed 160 varieties of figs, or in the woods where they foraged.

The blog also has a ton of recipes from her food travels and links to buy the book. Ale cuisine!

Wellesley Connections Strengthening Women's Education in Afghanistan

2010-08-29T22:48:00.003-05:00

You may have seen this on the Wellesley homepage, but I encourage you to listen to this radio interview on WBUR from early August with a member of the Class of 2010, Parnian Nazary, and the mother of Paula Loyd, an alum who was working in Afghanistan when she was killed by the Taliban.

The inspiring piece discusses the many benefits of educating women, as well as Wellesley's role in empowering young women.

You can listen to the piece here:

http://www.hereandnow.org/2010/08/rundown-89/

Design by Emily Saunders '06 Featured in NYC

2010-08-22T19:37:00.006-05:00

Emily Saunders '06 has a design on display in New York until September 3rd. Emily and her classmate from Parsons The New School for Design were selected to be part of Sidewalk/Catwalk public art display in New York this summer. Sidewalk/Catwalk brought together 32 major fashion designers to decorate a Ralph Pucci mannequin with one of their designs.

Emily's design is featured on Broadway between 40th and 41st streets until September 3rd, so stop by and check it out. You can also see some of Emily's designs and work on her blog: http://www.ishouldcoco.tumblr.com/.

Submitting class notes

2010-08-17T21:40:00.003-05:00

The time has come again to submit class notes! Send a quick update (it doesn't have to be more than a sentence or two or three) to 2006notes@alum.welllesley.edu. To be included in notes in the Fall 2010 edition of the alumnae magazine, submit your notes by August 28th.

President Walsh On 'Letting Go'

2010-07-29T11:50:00.007-05:00

Inside Higher Ed features an article by our very own President Walsh titled "Letting Go." In it, she writes about her transition out of her role as Wellesley's president and how she's perfectly fine with "living my way into a transition in which I no longer know what to do."

It's a beautifully-written piece, perfect as many of us continue to head into and out of grad school, start families, switch jobs etc. A reminder that it's OK to allow ourselves the "luxury of having a mind that is baffled."

Campaigning for Clooney

2010-06-05T19:07:00.005-05:00

Some '07 alums have started a Facebook group to get George Clooney to visit ill and much-loved professor Ann Velenchik. Ann is receiving treatment for leukemia at Brigham and Women's Hosptial in Boston.

From the group:

"Ann is a professor of economics at Wellesley College, mentor of hundreds of students, mother of 2 lovely young children (age 9 and 13), wife to a wonderfully supportive husband, stand-up comedian, and most recently, blogger of her experiences during treatment for APML. Humor and enthusiasm for life has stood Ann well during much of her chemotherapy, and has also been uplifting for her family, friends, and students.

We have written to Mr. Clooney to tell him that he is, singularly, Ann's favorite celebrity, and to request that he visit during her recovery. Mr. Clooney would not only be inspiring to a courageous woman fighting cancer, but also to her wide network of supporters."

The group has 800+ members so far. It worked for Betty White, so why not?

Classmate Spotlight: Jessica Desvarieux

2010-05-21T12:18:00.005-05:00

Jessica Desvarieux is living in a world very different from the one we all knew at Wellesley. Since the devastating earthquake in January, Jessica Desvarieux has been living in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, covering the devastating aftermath and recovery in the small nation for TIME Magazine. At the time of the earthquake, Jessica was living in the US, working as an on-air reporter for the Regional News Network, a cable network in her home state of New York. She has a rich background as a reporter, having graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with a Masters in Broadcast Journalsim. She then moved to Egypt where she worked as a freelance reporter for the Associated Press, before moving back to New York.

When the devastating Earthquake hit Haiti in January, Jessica was eager to head down to her mother country to cover the tragedy that affected not only her family, but touched nearly every family in Haiti. Soon after the earthquake, Jessica made her way to Haiti, by way of the Dominican Republic and has been covering the rebuilding and recovery of the country since then, while also taking a bit of time outside of work to give back to the devastated communities around her. Jessica agreed to answer a few questions for the newsletter. You can also read some of Jessica’s stories from TIME magazine here and here.

How did you end up covering and living in Haiti?
When the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, I was getting ready to go on-air for the nightly cable show I used to report for in the New York area. "Breaking news: Earthquake Hits Haiti" read the caption on the news program. The first thought that came to mind was my 78-year-old grandmother who lives in Haiti. Using the family call tree, I just started dialing all of my close relatives to see if they knew anything more about my grandmother and the situation in Haiti. A couple days passed and information was trickling in back to the U.S. We were finally able to locate my grandmother who was indeed safe, but the pictures coming from Haiti revealed that she was quite fortunate. Each night I would watch images of bodies being picked up by backhoes and dropped in dumpsters, mothers crying and caring lifeless children, and miraculous rescues. These images haunted me not only because of their severity but I knew I should be there. I wanted to contribute to telling the story which would be a major turning point in Haiti's history. After a couple days of making arrangements, I packed, booked a flight to Dominican Republic since commercial flights were suspended, and headed to Haiti.

Were you or your family touched personally by the earthquake?
There were no deaths in my immediate family, but I lost my 27-year-old cousin Regine. She was an American citizen and decided to move back to Haiti because she loved the country. My family had constant faith that she would survive. There was so much confusion and misinformation coming out of Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake, and at times we heard she was alive. She texted her sister when she was underneath the rubble, but rescue workers were unable to reach her. Regine's death exemplifies how Haiti's lack of infrastructure caused so much unnecessary loss of life - 300,000 by the Haitian government's count. But her life represents a possibility for a better Haiti - the return of the Haitian diaspora to improve the country.

More than 3 months since the earthquake, how has Haiti changed? Is progress being made in rebuilding?
Progress is minimal and happening slowly in Haiti. Haitians have returned to a certain level of normalcy: merchants selling goods on the side of the road and many children are back in school. But there are still piles of rubble and debris all over the city and small projects of rubble removal have only begun to scratch the surface. The international community hasn’t responded to Haiti’s reconstruction with the same level of urgency as the rescue operations. Hurricane season is imminent and we are currently in the rainy season. With more than one million people homeless, there is no doubt that shelter should be a major priority. Aid comes down in trickles in Haiti, but when it rains it pours.

What has been the biggest struggle in covering the stories and news coverage out of Haiti?
As part of the nature of news, Haiti has migrated from the front pages of newspapers to a sporadic news story. The drama and the initial shock and awe of the earthquake have faded so it’s a challenge to continue to make the story interesting and relevant to an American audience. But with that said, there were a number of post-earthquake stories about the missionaries who were charged with kidnapping 33 Haitian children. Because it involved Americans, it was instantaneously popular. I struggled with the immense amount of media attention given to this one story. Staking out the courthouse for half a day just to get a snapshot of the missionaries being escorted by Haitian police made me wonder about all of the untold stories of the millions who were homeless, hungry and right outside the courthouse gate. Finally, it’s a challenge understanding and conveying the scope of the disaster. Port-au-Prince is extremely centralized and media attention has largely focused on the capital. But there are cities outside the capital like Leogone with 80% of its buildings completely destroyed.

What do you do outside of work to make time for yourself?
Time for myself often comes second, but I try to keep working on projects that keep me fulfilled. I am in the process of establishing an education program called Adopt-a-School. Adopt-a-School was founded on the principle that education systems can be interconnected to form global communities. Schools in the United States can choose a school to adopt in order to form a bond as a brother or sister school. Donating supplies and having teachers and students volunteer their time can solidify this bond. Often times after a natural disaster, there is an outpouring of support and many people want to see their funds go directly to the people. I thought this program would be a great way to do just that. Also, I try to go the beach on occasion and get out of Port-au-Prince as much as possible to really see the true natural beauty of Haiti.

What, in your opinion have been the most effective organizations in Haiti since the earthquake?
Partners in Health does a lot of great work outside of Port-au-Prince. ADRA ( Adventist Development and Relief Agency), one of the first organizations putting up temporary shelters. KOFAVIV – Haitian run organization composed of female rape victims with the mission to help raped women receive medical and psychological attention. Even though their office is a pile of rubble now, they are still operating under a tent. They go from tent city to tent city since insecurity is a reality for many women including themselves. This organization is completely grassroots run by Haitian female volunteers.

And the winners are...

2010-05-20T08:54:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to our new reunion leaders!

Reunion Chair: Katie Landise
Record Book Chair: Sandya Das
Nominating Chair: Kelly Sheridan

[Check your inbox for more class updates in our Spring newsletter, including a Q&A with Jessica Desvarieux '06, a freelance journalist who moved to Haiti after the earthquake.]

Purple Strikes Again

2010-05-06T15:42:00.005-05:00

Four years later...purple is BACK. I dare say 2010 did our color justice.

Click here to see the rest of 2010's purple decorations.
[photos by Wellesley staff member Doug Chudzik]

It's the Little Things That Count

2010-04-22T00:49:00.005-05:00

I was recently back on the Wellesley campus for the first time in a few years. Not too much has changed since we left four years ago, but a few things have. Alumnae Hall has been renovated and re-named Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall, and the Beebe and Caz dining halls have been closed. It was nostalgic to think that small things like that will keep changing over the years, but the core of the campus will stay the same as we go back for reunions for many years to come.

There was one spot on campus, though, that hasn't changed and it brought a huge smile to my face when I saw it and realized it was still there:

Class Nominations: Reunion, Record Book and Nominating Chair

2010-03-31T13:15:00.003-05:00

Please check back in a few days to find out who your Reunion Chair, Record Book Chair and Nominating Chair will be.

If you are interested in serving on the reunion committee, please send an e-mail to wellesley2006@gmail.com (with your name, phone # and position of interest). The reunion committee will be appointed by the Reunion Chair. Committee positions include: Treasurer, Residence Hall Chair, Program Chair, Social Hour/Alcohol Chair, Saturday Dinner Chair, Sunday Picnic Chair, Insignia Chair, Parade Marshal.

Get Involved as an Alumnae Volunteer

2010-03-24T00:33:00.003-05:00

We've got a few volunteer positions around reunion that will be announced over the next week (check back here for more details soon!)

In the meantime, if you're interested in volunteering as an alumnae, there are a few different ways to get involved. Many volunteer opportunities are available with your local alumnae club. To get in touch with your local club, you can find the contact information here:
http://www.wellesley.edu/Alum/Clubs/index.html

If you'd like to get involved as a volunteer with the Class of 2006, just email us at wellesley2006@gmail.com and we're happy to help from there!

Looking for more? Check out the alumnae association's website on ways to volunteer as an alumnae:
http://www.wellesley.edu/Alum/Volunteer/index.html

The French Toast Blog

2010-02-18T19:53:00.004-05:00

Check out classmate Dani Friedland's food blog "French Toast: The Proust Is In the Pudding." Her latest recipe entry, "The Best Brownies I've Ever Made," was was inspired by an old post on Wellesley's "Foodies" conference. I shared Freeman Hall with Dani celebrated many birthdays with what we affectionately named "DaniCake" (aka the best chocolate cake anybody's ever made). Believe me, the woman can cook. Other recipes on the blog include "Bisque, Quick" and "Fabulous, Slightly Weird Ice Cream"

Dani also just graduated from Northwestern's journalism school -- good food and good prose, what else could a Wellesley woman want?

Organize a Mini Reunion

2010-02-15T23:26:00.004-05:00

A quick note on mini-reunions from our Vice President, Jerilyn Libby:

Mini Reunions
Class of 2006 mini reunions are a great chance to reconnect with friends and classmates. In the past, reunions have been organized in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. If you are interested in planning a reunion in one of these cities or in another location, please contact Jerilyn Libby, jerilynm [at] gmail.com

Suggestions and Tips for Mini Reunions:

· A mini reunion is as simple as three or more alums getting together; if you and your friends have had such an event recently, let us know and share pictures if available!

· San Francisco area alums recently held a mini reunion after the Wellesley Club of Northern California Holiday Tea. It’s a great idea to hold mini reunion after a local Wellesley Club event to boost attendance.

· Dining Events: Organize a social hour or dinner at a restaurant, or perhaps plan a tea, potluck, barbecue, brunch, or wine tasting.

· Cultural Events: Take a museum, garden, or architectural tour, or attend a musical or theatrical performance.

Snowpocalypse 2010

2010-02-10T17:30:00.001-05:00

Snowpocalypse 2010: The view from Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Photo courtesy Sophie Kim '06
[Have a photo or update? E-mail it to us at Wellesley2006@gmail.com]

What Suits Her Fancy How Kerry Wagner ’06 put $1000 to good use

2010-02-05T20:03:00.007-05:00

When Kerry Wagner ’06, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, won $1000 from her company she found a simple way ease the stress of job interviews for some Wellesley students.

Kerry was one of 15 employees honored as a role model and leader in diversity among the bank's North and South American locations. The award came with $1000 to be donated to the organization of her choice. Through Wellesley’s Center for Work and Service, she expanded the center’s Suit Lending Program, which lets students borrow suits for job interviews.

“I think that the suit loan program helps to level the playing field and assure that each student can pursue any professional opportunity she wishes,” Kerry said. The donation has already made an impact – the closet now has 20 suits that are constantly being loaned out. There’s still a need for additional sizes, though -- especially petite ones. Kerry worked with two major clothing companies to get the suits at a discount price, but she says the CWS is looking for additional clothing connections and discounts.

President Kim Bottomly wrote in a note that she feels the suit project strengthens the CWS’s commitment to “providing our student body with the resources they need to translate their liberal arts education into action in the world."

Kerry is encouraging younger alumnae to donate because even a small donation can make a tangible difference for Wellesley students and “the opportunities they are able to confidently pursue.” If you’re interested in helping the Suit Lending Program, you can direct a gift through Wellesley’s Office for Resources or contact Irma Tryon (itryon@wellesley.edu) with any connections to retailers.

New Facebook Fan Page

2010-01-31T21:58:00.002-05:00

Become a fan of the Class of 2006! Well, if you're reading this you probably already a fan of the Class of 2006, but now you can become a Facebook Fan.

Check out our new Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wellesley-Class-of-2006/304302262497

Become a fan, post on the wall, find other classmates on Facebook with whom you've lost touch, and keep up with class information.

Haiti

2010-01-15T18:28:00.003-05:00

I'm sure you've all heard about Haiti's devastating earthquake.

Today, Ophelia Dahl '94 (our commencement speaker) spoke about Haiti at Wellesley. She is the executive director of Partners in Health, which has brought healthcare and community services to thousands in Haiti.

Listen to her remarks here and take a look at Partners in Health's work.

Also, if you are able to give money or medical supplies, the CWS has compiled a list of suggested organizations, which I'll paste into the comments below.

Maia Macdonald Performing in New York

2010-01-12T02:52:00.002-05:00

If you're in New York, you should check out '06er Maia Macdonald performing her music on Monday, January 18th at Union Hall in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Maia is a singer-songwriter living in New York and released an album last year, "Islands Are Born". (Another '06er, Caitlin Cahill, makes a cameo on the album cover.)

Check out Maia's show next Monday if you can, and you can also hear some of her music on her MySpace page (because when was the last time you went to MySpace?) Her music is mellow and sweet with a lot of life, and definitely reminds me of some of the folk musicians that played at Molly's.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T18:30:00.003-05:00

Here's to a happy new year for the Class of 2006!

What are your hopes and dreams for the new year, purple class?

Wellesley Alum Takes the Helm of ABC World News

2009-12-21T21:46:00.003-05:00

Another proud moment for Wellesley alums as 1967 graduate Diane Sawyer debuted tonight as the anchor of the ABC World News. While Wellesley has a number of alums that have made their name in journalism, and Diane Sawyer is probably the most famous, and certainly the first to head up the prime-time news hour on one of the major three stations.

Here's a glowing article from the Louisville, KY Courier Journal (Diane's hometown newspaper- also my hometown newspaper- we're some of the few to head from Kentucky to Wellesley): http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20091220/FEATURES07/912200355/1008/NEWS01/Sawyer+hits+her+prime-time+stride

Alumnae Association Holiday Greeting

2009-12-14T23:42:00.003-05:00

Most of you probably got the email this morning, but I definitely had some serious nostalgia from the Alumnae Association's holiday greeting:

http://www.wellesley.edu/Alum/HolidayCard09/index.html

All the more so because I live in California now and secretly miss the snow this time of year!

Professor Case's Last Class

2009-12-11T09:54:00.009-05:00

Today's Boston Globe (via the news feed) features a great article about the retirement of Wellesley Professor Chip Case. He teaches his last class today.

Case created the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Prices Indices which changed the way we measure the housing market. Suffering from Parkinson's disease, he decided to retire:

“I can remember the names of every kid from 25 years ago,’’ Case said. “All of a sudden I have a class now, and I don’t remember their names.’’

Read the article here.

Do you have a blog?

2009-12-11T01:34:00.003-05:00

If you are a 2006'er and you have a blog, let us know in the comments section, and we'll link to it in the sidebar!

We'd love to get a list of members of the purple class who blog, so we can create an online network to help keep in touch.

Reunion Dates

2009-12-03T13:17:00.000-05:00

For our hyper-advance planners out there, the Alumnae Association just set the date for our first reunion. We're still two years out, but here they are:

June 3 - June 5, 2011

Start shopping for that purple!

Bay Area Mini-Reunion

2009-12-01T15:58:00.004-05:00

If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Wellesley Club of Northern California will be doing a small 2006 mini-reunion after the Club's Holiday Tea.

We will be gathering at Cesar in Berkeley at 4:30pm on Sunday, December 6. Cesar is at 1515 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley, about 8 blocks north of the Downtown Berkeley BART station.

To rsvp or if you have any questions, contact me (kderrick@alum.wellesley.edu) or Ellie Blume (eblume@alum.wellesley.edu).

Send Along Updates for Class Notes

2009-11-25T22:37:00.002-05:00

It is that time of the season when I am writing the next column of class notes, and therefore it is also that time of the season when I shamelessly solicit updates from you. I'd love to hear about what any and all '06ers are up to- even just a sentence or two, and you'll likely make it into the next set of notes.

Don't be shy- when you look back, you'll realize you've done more than you think the past three and a half years!

If you have an update, you can submit it to wellesley2006@gmail.com by Sunday, November 29th, and I'll include you in the column for the winter magazine (which will come out around February.)

Grilled Cheese for Good

2009-11-22T00:07:00.002-05:00

One of my fondest memories of the dearly departed food service kitchen at Schneider was heading there after a long night day (and usually night) of studying at the library, and then running as quickly as possible from Knapp to Schneider to warm up with a grilled cheese croissant sandwich (and usually some warm Schneider fries.)

I was inevitably reminded of ol' Schneider a few weeks ago when I learned about an organization called Feel Good World. Feel Good World is a nonprofit that funds students at colleges across the country with money to start up campus delis. The proceeds from the delis (which often produce easy-to-make and sustainably supplied grilled cheese sandwiches) go to various organizations working for a sustainable end to global hunger. So you can hit the spot with a grilled cheese sandwich and help the world!

Congratulations to Alissa!

2009-11-14T21:23:00.004-05:00

We're happy to announce that Alissa Cohen '06 married Yoel Greenwald on October 18th at Kibbutz Ma'ale HaChamisha in the Judean Hills in Isreal. Classmate Meera Sheffrin attended the wedding, flying all the way from Pittsburgh, PA! Alissa is in her 2nd year of grad school in molecular biology at Hebrew University Medical School in Jerusalem and her husband is an ophthalmologist at Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot, Israel.

Thanks to Alissa for letting us post it, and sending along a picture of she and Meera at the wedding!

If you have had a wedding recently, we're happy to include pictures on the blog (and, of course, include you in the class notes!) Just email wellesley2006@gmail.com.

Wellesley Takes the Media

2009-11-13T15:20:00.011-05:00

A language trend group has ranked the nation’s top 200 colleges according to their appearance in print and electronic media. Wellesley claimed the top spot in the college rankings, followed by Colorado College, Williams and Amherst. This year is the first time a women’s college has topped the rankings.

The most-cited university was the University of Michigan, followed by MIT, Harvard and Columbia.

Click here to see the top 25 rankings.

(Thanks to '06er Lindsey B. for the tip)

Women in Science, Class of 1913

2009-11-11T17:59:00.005-05:00

Any 96-year-old female biochemist would have had to overcome gender discrimination in her day. Mildred Cohn eventually won the National Medal of Science for her pioneering research but was once told that studying chemistry would not be "ladylike." After earning her Master's degree (at the age of 19), Columbia University wouldn't hire her as a teaching assistant because the position was reserved for men.

"My career has been affected at every stage by the fact that I am a woman, beginning with my undergraduate education," she once wrote.

Mildred Cohn didn't go to Wellesley but did attend Hunter College when it was a women's college. Click here to read the obituary for Mildred Cohn.

New Book by Ira Trivedi '06

2009-11-10T02:43:00.005-05:00

One of our 2006 classmates, Ira Trivedi, is celebrating the release of her second novel, The Great Indian Love Story. A short blurb from the publisher, Penguin Books India:

The Great Indian Love Story is set in a world where appearances mean everything and nothing is as it seems. There’s no time for love in a world that revolves around the latest Ferraris, the hottest nightclubs, diamonds, single malts, cocaine and ecstasy. In this whirl of wild parties, sex and drugs we meet Serena Sharma who lives her life one debauched night at a time, always falling for the wrong men. Her life is a rollercoaster ride: her father’s death followed by her mother’s remarriage, a broken heart and a lost love. Adding to this is her torrid affair with Amar Khanna—a trophy husband, coke addict and serial adulterer. Riya, jaded by her unsuccessful attempt to find a job in America, returns to Delhi to find the city of her childhood changed beyond recognition. Striking an unlikely friendship with Serena, Riya finds her complacent torpor shattered. The Great Indian Love Story is also the story of Parmeet, Serena’s mother, who looks for passion outside her marriage with disastrous consequences, and S.P. Sharma, Parmeet’s husband, who is driven to violence by her infidelity. Ira Trivedi weaves together sex, revenge, glitz, friendship and a chilling murder to create a potent cocktail in this gripping novel on the perfidious nature of love and power.

Congratulations to Ira for publishing her 2nd novel!

If you've been published, let us know and we'll highlight it here on the class blog.

Read My Pins

2009-11-07T19:23:00.005-05:00

As the resident librarian on our alumnae council, I thought it was natural to highlight a book for my first post on our blog.

As some of you might know, Madeleine Albright has written a new book, entitled Read My Pins. I heard a wonderful interview with her on NPR where she talks about the book and how she used her pins to communicate messages about her diplomatic efforts. You can listen to the interview and read an excerpt from the book here.

Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to get my hands on the book (ie, my library has not acquired it yet). If any of you have read it, please let me know what you think!

New York Times on Choosing a Women's College

2009-11-06T15:56:00.004-05:00

There is a piece today on the New York Times blog The Choice written by a high school senior who is happily seeking out women's colleges (she briefly mentions Wellesley):

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/champion/

I'm interested to hear from other 2006ers- did you go to Wellesley because it was a women's college or despite the fact that it was a women's college? (Or maybe you didn't care either way and your main thought was "All you can eat ice cream and a lake? Count me in!") Leave your thoughts in the comments!

(Thank you to Katie Landise '06 for bringing the NYT piece to our attention!)

Wellesley on iTunes

2009-11-03T18:25:00.005-05:00

Where else can you listen to a podcast about Feminist Ecological Economics? Wellesley has nearly a hundred lectures on iTunes from professors and alums including Ann Velenchik, Alan Schechter, Marshall Goldman and Cappy Lynch. Plus, past Tanner presentations and commencement speeches. Just search "Wellesley" in the iTunes store or click here.

Wellesley Econ Class Featured on NPR

2009-11-02T18:44:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, there was a great piece on NPR about an Econ course being taught by Professor Anne Witte about Personal Finance Basics. I remember taking a workshop by the CWS senior year about real-life topics they don't usually teach in college (health insurance, negotiating leases, developing credit, saving for retirement, and all kinds of painfully adult things), but it wasn't nearly as comprehensive as Professor Witte's class probably is. I can't help but think that Professor Witte's course might make a good prereq.

Class of 2006 Newsletter

2009-10-27T23:38:00.004-05:00

Check out the latest Class of 2006 newsletter- updates on mini reunions, annual giving, and a few lead-ups to (yes, it is really happening in 19 months) our 5 year reunion!

If you have ideas or updates for the class newsletter, drop us a line at wellesley2006@gmail.com! And as secretary, I will make my perpetual plug for updates for the Class Notes in the Wellesley alumnae magazine. You can send the updates (and pictures for the magazine, too) to 2006notes@alum.wellesley.edu.

Pay your dues securely via Google Checkout

2009-10-24T23:17:00.023-05:00

You can pay your class dues online with a credit card through Google Checkout. Safe, secure, and easy to do!

Forbes: Why Women's Colleges are Still Relevant

2009-10-04T14:20:00.006-05:00

Read the article from Forbes,

"Why Women's Colleges are Still Relevant":

"They're not academic convents. Instead, they offer an open, empowering atmosphere, leadership training and, yes, co-ed classes..."

And alum Morgan Smith on the right and wrong way to defend women's colleges.

2006-04-25T09:26:00.000-05:00

Wellesley Class of 2006 Alumnae Class Council e-mail address: Wellesley2006@gmail.com

2006-04-25T09:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Wellesley College Class of 2006 Blog!