Spring 2023, Volume 48, Number 1
Six Great Ways to (Re)connect with Meredith
Vital Roles Alumnae Play for Their Alma Mater
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Features
All Are Welcome Here
A Q&A with President Jo Allen, ’80, and DEI Coordinator Liliana Madrid
By Gaye Hill
Just over one year ago, Meredith hired its first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator, Liliana Madrid, who reports directly to President Jo Allen, ’80. Meredith Magazine sat down with Allen and Madrid to learn about the College’s efforts over the past year toward making Meredith a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
By Gaye Hill
Even as a toddler, Joanna Cox, ’17, was intensely creative. So it’s no surprise that before she arrived at Meredith, she had already completed four years of study in fine arts, having attended a performing and visual arts high school.
Once at Meredith, when she was deciding on her major, she felt ready for a change. So rather than continuing her study of art, she decided to major in biology, which had always been another area of interest.
By Taylor Sexton
It’s been ten years since Meredith launched the Going Strong brand, and recent years have led many people to ask themselves what it truly means to be strong. Students, colleges, and universities are emerging from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to a different academic world with a new understanding of strength. This is why in the Fall of 2022, Meredith decided to highlight this new definition by relaunching the Going Strong campaign to the greater community.
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!
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the president’s column
The Transformative Power of Planning
As we draft the next iteration of the College’s strategic plan, the fourth since 2011, I am reminded of the adage, credited to leaders including Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower:
“Plans are useless, but the process of planning is invaluable.”
News
2023 Commencement to Be Held May 13
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College will hold commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2023 on Saturday, May 13. Two sessions are planned, one at 8:30 a.m. and another at 11 a.m. The ceremonies will be held in the courtyard area with Johnson Hall as the backdrop for these celebrations. The senior class president will address classmates at both ceremonies. Meredith has held commencement exercises in the courtyard since 2021.
Visit meredith.edu/commencement for more information.
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College mourns the loss of Professor Emeritus Roger Crook, who passed away on December 2, 2022, at the age of 101.
By Melyssa Allen
A fall 2022 campus visit by author Venita Blackburn was an inspiring opportunity for Meredith College students. The Department of English hosted a public reading on September 21, 2022, and Blackburn also interacted with students in a writing workshop.
Shop the Meredith Market!
New items are now available in the Meredith Market!
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Meredith Education Instructor Receives NCSTA Lifetime Achievement Award
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College Instructor of Education Manley Midgett is the recipient of the North Carolina Science Teachers Association (NCSTA) Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022.
By Heath Barringer, Sports Information Director
The Meredith Cross Country program finished at the top of the USA South standings for the 2022 season while also seeing freshman Amethyst Joseph named Rookie of the Year and head coach Field Miller named Coach of the Year.
By Melyssa Allen
For the 2022-23 Faculty Distinguished Lecture, Professor of Finance Bing Yu presented “Impact Investing: Driving Capitalists to Do Good While Doing Well.” The lecture was held on October 13, 2022, in Jones Auditorium.
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College held its Veterans Day celebration, Honoring Women Veterans, on November 9, 2022. This was the 10th-anniversary event and a return to an in-person service after two years of virtual commemorations.
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College and N.C. Center for Health and Democracy Poll found that North Carolinians blame health insurance companies more than any other part of the healthcare system for the rising costs seen in healthcare. While North Carolinians are mostly satisfied with their current health insurance provider, just 8.3 % of North Carolinians feel that their health insurer has their best interest in mind.
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College’s Dual Degree Engineering Program is now offering students the option to study Aerospace Engineering. The Dual Degree Engineering Program is an agreement between Meredith and NC State University through which students simultaneously complete the academic requirements of both institutions. Students in this program earn two degrees in five years.
Meredith Experts in the news
Meredith College experts have recently been featured in the media discussing topics including international education, inflation and the labor market, and Gen Z political opinions.
“This has been a really wonderful professional development opportunity for colleagues on campus to see an aspect of our international education that’s such a critical component of what we do here, so they’re able to return to campus and speak about their experiences and share that with students. It also has connected employees, faculty, and staff with colleagues on campus who they may not normally interact with. There have been some really wonderful bonds and relationships formed from colleagues who traveled together.”
Director of International Programs Brooke Shurer, in an Inside Higher Ed article about Meredith’s faculty/staff travel opportunity to the College’s site in Sansepolcro, Italy. The article ran in November 2022.
“Gen Z has been shaped by mass shootings in schools, horrible instances of racial injustice like George Floyd’s murder, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This, according to researchers, has made them more tolerant of differences, empathetic to the needs of marginalized people, and desirous of government being more active in solving societal problems, all of which are left-leaning ideas … However, a deeper examination of the polling data reveals some significant gender differences within Gen Z. Males are significantly less supportive — 30 percent less — of expanding abortion access or even retaining the provisions established under Roe v. Wade than Gen Z women.”
Professor of Political Science David McLennan and Associate Professor of Political Science Whitney Ross Manzo in an op-ed for The Hill, about Gen Z voter preferences. The piece ran in October 2022, before the midterm elections.
“There are a variety of reasons, from lack of child care keeping some mothers out of the labor market to earlier retirements. The male labor force participation rate has not even returned to its pre-pandemic level. And there is evidence that some people do still fear catching COVID in the workplace, particularly in jobs with a lot of human interaction. Until the labor force participation rate improves, I think that the Fed will continue to fight a losing battle that will end up causing too much harm to the economy as they continue to use a tool that decreases the demand for output.”
Professor of Economics Anne York in a WRAL Techwire interview about the effect of the labor market on inflation. The story was posted in December 2022.
By Gaye Hill
Meredith College piloted a new clinical exercise program in fall 2022. The course provides practical experience for Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (HESS) students enrolled in ESS 486: Exercise Prescription. Seniors learn how to train individuals who have health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, orthopedic conditions, and metabolic disorders.
By Gaye Hill
On October 27, two experts spoke at Meredith about the devastating impacts of climate change on coastal forests in North Carolina as part of the 2022 Summer Reading Program.
By Gaye Hill
In the fall 2022 semester, Professor of Art Shannon Johnstone arranged for her students to take photos at the Blind Spot Animal Sanctuary. They were charged with taking photos that depict animals as subjects rather than objects.
By Taylor Sexton
For three days in late October 2022, 36 chairs were placed in the area between the Cate Center and the Science and Math Building. Each represented a victim of domestic violence homicides in North Carolina in 2022. Thirty-four of the chairs had photos of the victims taped to them, while two teddy bears sat in the front row to represent two child victims.
By Melyssa Allen
The Meredith College Dance Program hosted its High School Day of Dance on October 28, 2022. This was the first time the event had been held since 2019.
Strong Stories
Luisa Jaramillo, ’23
Fostering Strengths-Based Work Environments
Writer: Gaye Hill | Videographer: Kaylin Tsukayama
“Not everyone gets to choose what they do on purpose. Sometimes it’s just based on what’s available and what you’re qualified to do. I think we’re better people when we get to do something that is uniquely interesting to us.
I chose to pursue my M.A. in Psychology at Meredith because of the investment that Meredith puts into their students and the success of their students. “
Alumnae Reunion Weekend
Save the Date • May 19-21, 2023
All alumnae are invited to attend Alumnae Reunion Weekend, and classes ending in a three or eight will be celebrating a special class reunion.
Making an Impact.
Alumnae Connection
By Taylor Sexton
When Sheryl Scott, ’10, first stepped foot on Meredith College’s campus, she was a reserved young woman looking for a supportive and safe community. With her parents by her side, they told her they felt “she could do anything here.” Thirteen years later, Scott has a career she’s passionate about at Walt Disney Television.
Meredith Travel – Spain and Morocco
September 28 – October 12, 2023
Spain illuminates Morocco and Morocco illuminates Spain. Meredith is excited to be providing friends and alumnae a tour that includes both.
By Taylor Sexton
When Kathryn Maitrejean, ’05, first entered the Navy, she worked in electronics and submarine repair. She then applied for a position as a master of arms and canine handler, which is what she spent most of her eight and a half years in the Navy doing. During this time, she worked presidential service and protective service details for leaders such as the Dalai Lama, the Secretary of State, Congressmen and Congresswomen, and even the Pope.
Have You Joined Meredith Mentors?
Meredith Mentors is an online platform that fosters relationships between members of the Meredith community.
Meredith Magazine
Volume 48, Number 1
Spring 2023
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:
Flyboy Photo & Media
Shannon Johnstone
Matthew Lester Photography
Gary D. Knight Photography
Marissa McCauley, ’21
Charlotte Claypoole McKinney
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:
Flyboy Photo & Media
Shannon Johnstone
Matthew Lester Photography
Gary D. Knight Photography
Marissa McCauley, ’21
Charlotte Claypoole McKinney
Kaylin Tsukayama
Meredith College Students, Faculty & Staff