Fall 2022, Volume 47, Number 3
New Academic Building Opens
State-of-the-Art Facility
Read More
Features
Inspiring Love and Compassion
By Taylor Sexton
Suwai Sonko, ’04, walks toward the newly renovated library with the principal of the Essau School, located in the North Banks Division of The Gambia. As they peek through the window, the two see a room packed with children excitedly exploring the shelves filled with new books.
Impactful projects and partnerships with the community like this inspire the Jileng Kunda Project (JKP). Founded in 2018, the nonprofit works to improve people’s lives in underdeveloped communities in The Gambia.
By Taylor Sexton
The year is 1972. Looking around, you can find men and women clad in bell bottoms in various colors and patterns. “American Pie” is number one on the charts, and no matter what station you change your radio to, you can’t escape Don McLean singing about the day the music died. It was a year of firsts as well. NASA launched the Space Shuttle Program, the Dallas Cowboys won their first Super Bowl, Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon, and speaking of Nixon, who can forget the scandalous Watergate?
By Gaye Hill
Established in 2018, Meredith’s Emerging Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program assists recent graduates in art, dance, and theatre in developing their creative practice and building a portfolio of mature work in their chosen discipline.
Class of 1964 Celebrates their 80th Birthdays
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the president’s column
Shaping the Future of Health and Communication
In the fall of 2022, Meredith College proudly opened its newest academic/athletic building: Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences (CHESS). The building houses two growing programs, communication and health, exercise & sport sciences, along with several coaches’ offices.
News
Meredith Community Rolls Out the Welcome Mat
By Gaye Hill
The Meredith College Class of 2026 moved onto campus Saturday, August 20, 2022. And although the rainy weather initially impacted some aspects of Move-In plans such as the iconic balloon arch, nothing could dampen the welcoming spirit of the Meredith community.
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College held a graduation ceremony for the first graduates of its Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program on August 6, 2022.
By Gaye Hill
Just prior to the start of the fall 2022 semester, Meredith offered a number of innovative programs to help students be successful.
Order 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!
Learn More
Meredith Undergraduate Research Program Supports Summer Projects
By Melyssa Allen
Ten Meredith College students were chosen to work with faculty mentors on undergraduate research projects supported by Meredith’s Undergraduate Research Program during the summer of 2022.
By Taylor Sexton
Meredith College’s Interior Design program officially received reaccreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) in May 2022. The reaccreditation will last for the next six years.
By Emily Parker
Meredith College celebrated 50 years of its adult education program, Wings, with an anniversary event on September 15, 2022. Alumnae, past directors, current students, faculty, and staff attended the event in Jones Auditorium that reflected on the program’s history and future.
By Gaye Hill
For the sixth year in a row, 100% of the graduates of Meredith College’s Master of Science in Nutrition program have been matched to dietetic internships (DI).
By Emily Parker
In 2021, the Office of Alumnae Relations mailed back-to-school packets to teachers, librarians, school counselors, administrators, professors, and other educators as they prepared to start a new school or academic year. The response was so overwhelming from alumnae that the project was repeated this year.
By Melyssa Allen
The Voices of Change Political Institute, a comprehensive non-partisan training program for women, recently completed its second year of training.
By Gaye Hill
Through the Summer Reading Program, the Class of 2026 and other Meredith community members explored one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change.
By Melyssa Allen
Students in Meredith’s Dual Degree Engineering program participated in the First-Year Engineering Design Day (FEDD) at NC State at the end of the 2021-22 academic year.
Meredith Experts in the news
Meredith College experts have recently been featured in the media discussing topics including transparent decision-making in higher education, what to do after losing a wallet, and the potential impact of young voters on the next election.
“Some of the more interesting nuances of decision-making during the pandemic help demonstrate why simple answers and procedures typically defy value in a crisis – in other words, the easy answer is almost always wrong. The cliché of building the car as it speeds downhill is more than apt for this situation as new information and data comes in daily and, occasionally, even hourly. Whether it’s about new numbers, new strategies, new guidance or new solutions – just when we are ready to hit “send” on a communication to the campus – new information has us scuttling to revise and amend that message.”
– President Jo Allen in a University Business opinion piece, “Are we going to miss the opportunity to make higher ed more transparent?,” published in August 2022.
“Keep a minimal amount of items in your wallet, what you really need. Don’t take unnecessary cards that you rarely use in your wallet.
You should call the police even if the wallet has been lost. If someone happens to find your wallet, a filed police report will have your contact information so the items can be returned to you.”
– Meredith Campus Police Chief Al White, in a U.S. News article offering advice on what to do after losing a wallet. The article was published in August 2022.
“In the next four months, if there isn’t something substantive done on the issues they care about, there is a real danger that young voters will not vote or volunteer on campaigns to the same degree as they did in 2020.”
– Professor of Political Science David McLennan in an article examining potential young voter turnout. The story was published in The Washington Post on July 16, 2022.
Strong Stories
Veronica Harrison, ’22
Becoming a Supportive Mentor Through Meredith’s Wings Program
Writer: Taylor Sexton | Videographer: Kaylin Tsukayama
“Coming to Meredith has shown me that I have strengths and skills that I wasn’t even aware of. And I can use them to make the world a better place.
At first, I was really apprehensive about being a Wings student. I didn’t know if I had anything to add or if I would stand out. But it turns out that being a Wings student is really useful because you can use life experiences and you can enrich the discussion in class.”
Alumnae Reunion Weekend
Save the Date • May 19-21, 2023
Join us on campus in May to relive your Meredith days at Alumnae Reunion Weekend!
Making an Impact.
Alumnae Connection
By Taylor Sexton
Laura Morgan, ’82, has spent her life on the stage and under a spotlight, whether for theatre, playing piano, or singing. But she never imagined that one day, at 60, she’d be standing on the stage to compete in her first pageant and win.
By Taylor Sexton
Leah Poole, ’20, entered Meredith College as a Wings (Meredith’s adult education program) student. While at Meredith, she enjoyed the small learning environment, made lifelong friends, and began carving her path to her current passion, improving the humanitarian response to climatic events.
By Taylor Sexton
It was a normal Monday morning in May 2021. Katherine (Kappie) Griggs, ’63, was meeting with The Old Cheraws Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at The Wine Factory in Cheraw, S.C., when suddenly, a large crowd began entering the room, and Griggs recognized Mayor Andy Ingram, several Town Council representatives, and Representative Richie Yow of the S.C. Legislature.
2022 Pewter Christmas Ornament
Available Now, Limited Quantity
ONLY $25
The ornament commemorates the opening of the new Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences Building that was completed in July 2022, in time for the beginning of the new academic year on August 24
Help Us Recruit Future Students
As a Meredith alumna, you know the power of a strong education and can use this knowledge to help the College recruit future generations of Meredith students.
Meredith Magazine
Volume 47, Number 3
Fall 2022
Kristi Eaves-McLennan, '14, MBA
Executive Editor
Melyssa Allen
Managing Editor
Karen T. Dunton
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
Kaylin Tsukayama
Videographer and Photographer
Liza Bunce
Web Designer and Developer
Taylor Sexton
Writer
Hilary Allen, '01
Alumnae Connection Editor
Other Photographs by:
Symoné Austin
Christopher Ferrer
Flyboy Photo & Media
Matthew Lester Photography
Marissa McCauley, ’21
Charlotte Claypoole McKinney
Steven Roten
David Timberlake
Kaylin Tsukayama
Meredith College Students, Faculty & Staff
Kristi Eaves-McLennan, ’14, MBA
Executive Editor
Melyssa Allen
Managing Editor
Karen T. Dunton
Managing Editor
Gaye Hill
Assistant Editor
Emily Parker
Writer
Hilary Allen, ’01
Alumni Connection Editor
Vanessa Harris
Art Director
Katie Bryant, ’07
Senior Graphic Designer
Liza Bunce
Web Designer and Developer
Charlotte Claypoole McKinney
Videographer and Photographer
Kaylin Tsukayama
Videographer and Photographer
Taylor Sexton
Writer
Other Photographs by:
Symoné Austin
Christopher Ferrer
Flyboy Photo & Media
Matthew Lester Photography
Marissa McCauley, ’21
Charlotte Claypoole McKinney
Steven Roten
David Timberlake
Kaylin Tsukayama
Meredith College Students, Faculty & Staff