Blog Archive » Faculty

Alumnae leadership is a Trinity hallmark across all generations of Trinity Women. At this week's Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society induction for Political Science majors, Paula Lettice, Class of 1971, continued the grand tradition of extending our "Old Girls' Network" to the latest generation of Trinity leaders. While we all know the famous Trinity alumna who sits in the Speaker's chair on Capitol Hill these days (Nancy Pelosi, Class of 1962), Paula Lettice is also a great example of the many Trinity leaders who work on the Hill to ensure that the "People's House" is run effectively. As the chief financial officer for the Architect of the Capitol, Paula has considerable responsibility for the operations of all major buildings under Congressional control, as well as the construction of the new visitors' center. In addition to her duties at the Capitol, Paula has also exercised her Trinity leadership skills on behalf of her alma mater, serving now as a Trinity Trustee. Full Article

Sister Elizabeth Henry Bellmer, SND, saved many a tree on Trinity's campus, long before the Green Movement was fashionable. Our remarkable landscape, originally designed by Olmstead, includes an astonishing variety of chestnut, beech, magnolia, pine, maple and other beautiful trees. But over the years, as building and maintenance needs evolved, the workers would occasionally think that progress required removing a tree. Not on Sr. Elizabeth's campus! This renowned botanist could shut down the chainsaws, saving, among others, an elegant tall evergreen near the library that was endangered for a while because it blocked a security light. Move the light, don't destroy the tree! She was right, of course, and the tree still lives, albeit with a chainsaw scar. Full Article

Last Friday, I had the privilege of sitting in on a focus group conducted by students in Dr. Shelley Tomkin's seminar on public opinion polling. What a great affirmation of Trinity's mission in women's leadership development! The students organized a highly disciplined and effective session in which other students, faculty and staff answered a series of questions about current politics. I will not go into the details here since the actual report will come from the class and I don't want to pre-empt their fine work. But I do want to share a few observations. Full Article

On Wednesday, March 26, many students, faculty, staff, alumnae and friends — and numerous faculty emeritae as well — gathered in O'Connor Auditorium to celebrate with and offer congratulations to Dr. Sharon Shafer on the occasion of her "Farewell Concert" — a phrase that none of us likes or can quite believe, and rest assured we'll try to convince Dr. Shafer to do many encores! But Dr. Shafer is retiring after 35 years of bringing the incomparable joy of music into the lives of generations of students and alumnae, as well as the large Trinity community. In her inimitable creative style, she offered this concert including her new song cycle IN PARADISUM as her way of saying farewell to her years on the faculty. Full Article