Blog Archive » Women’s Leadership

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

What would Julia think?

I found myself contemplating that question on the eve of Trinity's Founders Day as I sat in the Washington studios of Al Jazeera, the Arabic world television network, offering commentary on the Pope's visit to the United States. Al Jazeera Washington Bureau Chief Abderrahim Foukara smiled at me while speaking rapidly in Arabic. I smiled back, hoping that my eyes were not betraying my anxious effort to understand the English of the translator chattering through a wire in my right ear. "Why did the Pope come to the United States during the presidential election?" "What did George Bush hope to get out of his appearance with the Pope?" "Will this visit help or hurt Vatican-Muslim relations?"

What would Julia think? 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

They've done it again, those fabulous '60s Trinity Women! With the announcement that Jane Dammen McAuliffe will become the next president of Bryn Mawr College, the Trinity classes from the 1960's claim one more triumph in a long list of achievements. Trinity Women educated in that era now stand at the pinnacle of so many professions: Cathie Black '66 in publishing, Nancy Pelosi '62 in politics, Sharon Brady Raimo '69 in special education, Caryle Murphy '68 in journalism, Irene Hannan '68 in banking, Jurate Kazickas '64 in writing, Ann Kendrick SND '66 in community organizing and justice advocacy, Betty Ewens Quadracci '61 in publishing, Molly Scanlan Kelly '61 in prolife advocacy, Peggy O'Brien '69 in education. The '60's will also claim Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius '70 since she started then, but, of course, the '70's will claim her as their own as well!

Naming names is sure to get me in trouble, since so many more alumnae from the 1960's deserve to be on the list of great achievers — and I can already hear the Trinity alums from the 1950's exclaiming, "What about Joan Payden '53 in investing? What about Trinity's first superstar in Congress Barbara Bailey Kennelly '58?"

Oh, I love it when we start claiming bragging rights among the classes! We could go on and on, comparing each decade of achievement — and challenging the Trinity Women of the 21st Century to dare to surpass these remarkable leaders! (You can, of course, and you will!! But study these role models, their success can be your greatest teacher!)

Today, however, the crown is rightfully claimed by the '60s — and we're not talking about chronological age, here, though the achievements of women in their 60s also gives fresh energy to the rest of us who are chugging through our 50s and 40s! If they can do it, what's stopping us?

Hooray for Bryn Mawr's new president, Dr. Jane McAuliffe, and hooray for all of the great women of the classes of the 1960s! Your achievements make Trinity so proud!