2011 Alumni Award Recipients
The Distinguished Achievement Award - Dr. Terry Thomas Fulmer ’76
This award annually honors one alumnus or alumna, 10 years or more beyond his or her
Skidmore graduation, who has translated that experience into distinguished achievement
in professional activities and/or community service.
A pioneer and leading authority in the field of geriatric nursing,Terry Thomas Fulmer
’76 has built a distinguished career as a geriatric nurse practitioner, professor,
and researcher focused on the acute care of the elderly, with special emphasis on
the subject of elder abuse and neglect. She is the Erline Perkins McGriff Professor
and dean of the College of Nursing at New York University. She has served as the
Anna C. Maxwell Professor of Clinical Research at Columbia University School of Nursing
and held academic appointments at Boston College School of Nursing, the Harvard Division
of Health Policy, and Yale School of Nursing. The author of award-winning textbooks
on geriatric nursing, she has developed new models for the delivery of care to the
elderly and created the most widely used assessment tool for evaluating the health
of older adults in the country. Fulmer was the first nurse to be named president of
the Gerontological Society of America and to serve on the board of the American Geriatrics
Society. She was recently elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences Institute
of Medicine. Her contributions to research, pedagogy, and practice are said to have
provided the foundation for advances in the field of geriatric nursing over the last
twenty years. The Skidmore clinical nursing major says she can trace the roots of
her success to the strong academic foundation she received as an undergraduate.
As a freshman at Skidmore, however, she was not so sure she was up to the task of
the freshman nursing curriculum. A graduate of a small rural high school in Upstate
New York, it took her “a solid year” to adjust to the rigorous academic environment
at Skidmore. She met her college roommate and lifelong best friend Sarah Morgan Schwartzstein
’76 through their shared chemistry tutor. But she soon adjusted and thrived, becoming
president of her sophomore nursing class. She even accelerated her program to finish
in three years.
“By end of college, I gained both the extraordinary knowledge provided through the
curriculum as well as the confidence that I could be a leader. Graduate school was
an easy transition for me because Skidmore had prepared me so well. There was an expectation
from the Skidmore faculty that all of us would become leaders in the profession.
She completed a master’s at Boston College in 1977, finished her Ph.D. at Boston College
in 1983 and completed a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Post Master’s Certificate from
New York University in 2001.
It was at her first position as a staff nurse at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital, one
of Harvard’s teaching hospitals, that she discovered a passion for caring for the
elderly. She was also “captivated” by the research-intensive environment. Fulmer began
to ponder what she saw related to the clinical care of older adults. “We could restart
their hearts and mend fractured hips, but there were few best practice protocols for
geriatric care and there was no comprehensive approach to planning for the complex
transition so many older adults must make after discharge from the hospital.”
A determination to elevate the quality of geriatric care inspired Fulmer as she went
on to pursue teaching and research appointments. These included associate professor
of nursing at Boston College, lecturer in social medicine and health policy at the
Division of Aging at Harvard University, research scientist and associate professor
of Gerontological Nursing at Yale University School of Nursing, and professor and
associate dean for research at Columbia University. There, she also served as a fellow
of the Stroud Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology.
She was the first nurse to be named a Brookdale National Fellow—an honor reserved
for those with exceptional potential for leadership in expanding the gerontology and
geriatric knowledge base. Fulmer joined the NYU nursing faculty in 1995, where she
was appointed as professor and director for the Pless Center for Nursing Research.
In 2002, she was appointed, after a national search, as the Erline Perkins McGriff
Professor and head of the Division of Nursing at NYU. She successfully worked with
the university administration to realign the nursing program from a division of nursing
in the Steinhardt School of Education to a College of Nursing at the NYU College of
Dentistry. In 2005, when the college was founded, Fulmer became the first sitting
dean.
She is committed to nursing education that is steeped in a liberal arts college experience.
“At NYU, we work closely with the College of Arts & Sciences, in order to think carefully
about the coursework that can best prepare our nursing students to move through their
undergraduate experience with both the breadth and depth that is required to be an
excellent professional as well as well educated citizen upon graduation.” Over her
tenure, enrollment has grown from 600 to 1,500 students. This year, NYU’s College
of Nursing was ranked the top school in the nation for geriatric nursing by U.S. News
and World Report.
An interdisciplinary focus informs Fulmer’s work. Over the years, she has mentored
and collaborated with countless geriatric physicians and social workers. She directed
the Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training Project, a national initiative funded
by the John A. Hartford Foundation, Inc., that has created new team-based training
models for the delivery of care in managed care settings. She is also co-director
of the John A. Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing and co-director of the Consortium
of New York Geriatric Education Centers, which delivers interdisciplinary education
to healthcare professional faculty and clinicians. She currently co-leads the Macy-funded
NYU3T: Teaching, Technology & Teamwork intraprofessional education grant with Dr.
Marc Triola at the medical school.
A leading figure in geriatric research, she has been long recognized for her ongoing
NIH-funded research on the identification and treatment of elder neglect and abuse.
Fulmer is also nationally renowned for helping establish and lead Nurses Improving
Care to Health System Elders, a national nursing program that provides research-based
tools and resources to providers of care to hospitalized older patients. NICHE is
operating in 320 hospitals across North America.
She has authored ten textbooks on acute care of the elderly. Three have received
American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Awards. Her textbook, Critical Care Nursing
of the Elderly, is used extensively by nursing students and practitioners nationwide.
She has been honored as a Distinguished Practitioner by the National Academy of Practice
and a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the American Academy of
Nursing. In 1994, she was recognized with a Skidmore Alumni Periclean Scholar Award.
A longtime alumna volunteer, Fulmer has served Skidmore as a class fund and Friends
of the Presidents chair, a member of alumni board Awards Committee, alumni board secretary,
and admissions correspondent. When she joined the Skidmore College Board of Trustees
in 2007, she quickly became the driving force behind an effort to create a program
that would allow Skidmore students to obtain nursing degrees through a partnership
with NYU’s College of Nursing. (Skidmore’s own Nursing Program was discontinued in
1985.) Fulmer saw the opportunity to create a rigorous, science-based program that
would meet the surging demand for healthcare education and reconnect Skidmore with
a critical piece of its rich legacy in the sciences. In an articulation agreement
between the College and NYU that was formalized in 2009, qualified Skidmore students
seeking certification in nursing gain automatic acceptance into the NYU College of
Nursing. A 3.0 GPA and several prerequisites are required, but students do not have
to be science majors. Students earn a baccalaureate degree from Skidmore College and
a second baccalaureate degree in nursing from NYU in either an accelerated 15-month
or an 18-month program.
Fulmer says the program is structured to provide a “seamless transition” from college
to professional nursing education. “We want to make it easy for people to progress
into their graduate education.” She is delighted that the program is attracting increasing
numbers of students and looks forward to graduating Skidmore students who go on to
earn doctoral degrees and become nurse-scientists. “My passion to forge this Skidmore-NYU
link comes from knowing the excellence of the Skidmore student body and the value
of having Skidmore, once again, participate in preparing nurses for the future. I
am very excited.”
Fulmer also serves Skidmore’s board of trustees as chair of the Advancement Committee.
She has vibrant memories of her days as a student in Skidmore’s Nursing Program.
She recalls the intensity of the bonds formed among her peers as they lived together
and worked together—in NYC hospitals, homecare agencies and social service agencies.
“I have never had such an extraordinary group of nursing friends; they were and are
bright, talented, and exceptional. I will never forget the camaraderie.”
It is the quality of these lasting relationships with all her Skidmore friends that
makes receiving this award so meaningful to her. “There is nothing more significant
than being recognized by your peers—and my Skidmore peers honor me by recognizing
me in this way. As a trustee, I am very aware of the exceptional body of alumni out
there, so being selected is truly humbling.”
Fulmer is quick to share the honor with her husband of 37 years, Keith Fulmer, and
their children Nina, Holly and Sam. “They have always been my center, my inspiration
my cheering squad, and the central architects of my very happy life.”
Creative Thought Matters Award- David Luks ’96
Recognizes an alumna/us who has made a demonstrated contribution through innovation
and/or creation of a fresh approach that inspires or enlightens the lives of others
and contributes to the greater good. This contribution may have been made in the
scope of the award winner’s career, community work, government, or volunteer service.
Throughout Skidmore’s history, the College has challenged itself to make no small
plans—to make no ordinary choices—and this award recognizes an alumna/us who purposely
demonstrates this belief in his or her life and work.
David Luks ’96 is a firm believer in the power of creativity, coupled with hard work,
to transform a simple idea into something far greater. The founder and CEO of Honeydrop
Beverages, the only line of ready to drink teas and juices sweetened exclusively with
honey, discovered in that substance not only a key ingredient to a healthier lifestyle,
but also inspiration for an award-winning brand of premium beverages.
By the time he launched the Brooklyn-based company in 2009, Luks already knew plenty
about marketing and the beverage industry. After graduating from Skidmore, David
worked in market research at ACNielsen for clients such as Colgate Palmolive, Hain
Foods, and Revlon. In 1999, he entered the beverage industry working for PepsiCo,
helping the company develop short and long term sales strategies. After earning an
M.B.A. from Georgetown University in 2003, David returned to PepsiCo, where he managed
such brands as Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi’s energy drinks, and SoBe Beverages. Deciding
to strike out on his own, Luks later founded LSD Partners, an independent marketing
consultancy that helped clients in the beer, food, and spirits industry develop, launch,
and distribute new products.
The inspiration for Honeydrop, however, originated in a personal challenge. In 2006,
Luks was diagnosed with cancer; he set about studying ways to improve his health by
avoiding products containing artificial preservatives, processed sweeteners, and chemical
residue. At the prompting of a nutritionist, he delved into research on the health
benefits of honey. He discovered that honey contains antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals,
and, due to its lower place on the glycemic index, is better at regulating blood sugar
levels. It helps soothe sore throats and coughs more effectively than most over-the-counter
medicines and protects against chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
Because honey is metabolized more slowly than refined sugars, it provides the kind
of sustained energy that promotes better athletic performance and restores muscles
after strenuous exercise. Luks investigated the composition of existing bottled drinks
to find that most were sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, evaporated cane juice,
or crystalline fructose, which are all refined sugars. Those that purported to contain
honey actually used artificial honey flavoring and very little honey. Discovering
that there was no beverage available on the market sweetened solely by pure honey
and unaltered with refined sugars, Luks had an epiphany. “I realized there was an
opportunity to create a brand that uses honey to its full potential—and that consumers
could actually benefit from its unique nutritional composition.” He perfected a singular
formula: each bottle of Honeydrop contains all-natural juices or teas, is “powered”
by one tablespoon of wildflower honey, and ranges from 70 to 90 calories. Handcrafted
in small batches, the drinks originally came in blood orange, blueberry, and chamomile
flavors. Luks took care to package the products in recyclable plastic bottles manufactured
without Bisphenol A (BPA), an industrial chemical that is thought to remain in plastic
containers and potentially leach into food.
His simple idea made a big splash. Launched at the Natural Products Expo East in
2008, the beverage line captured the BevNET Best in Show Award, a prestigious industry
honor.
Luks is committed to continually seeking opportunities to innovate and enhance Honeydrop’s
product line, which now includes Green Tea, Lemon Tea, and Lemon Ginger flavors.
He recently opted to switch from plastic to custom glass bottles in response to consumer
preference. His hard work has paid off: Honeydrop Beverages are being sold by Whole
Foods Markets and leading gourmet retailers nationwide.
He says that Honeydrop’s formula is good for the environment, too. The company has
started to contribute a portion of proceeds of every bottle sold to local beekeeping
associations to help build more local hives and combat Colony Collapse Disorder, a
growing phenomenon in which worker honeybees disappear or die, which is thought to
be caused by a combination of environmental stresses and pathogens. “This is a serious
issue that impacts all consumers. Bees pollinate a third of all produce we eat. In
fact, bees pollinate 100% of almonds, 90% of apples, and 90% of oranges, just to name
a few. At Honeydrop, we believe in making a difference. That’s why every bottle you
buy helps to build a new hive to increase the bee population—one bottle, one bee at
a time.”
Luks points to lessons he learned at Skidmore that have shaped his approach to business.
“The BU107 experience influenced me in many ways. First, it taught me the value of
working and collaborating in a team environment, which has been invaluable for me
in my career. Secondly, it showed me that nothing happens without hard work—and a
couple of beers with friends!”
The strong liberal arts foundation he received at Skidmore, he says, gave him the
ability to appreciate diverse fields of knowledge and critically analyze situations.
“I credit this foundation for helping me to think creatively and not necessarily conform
to preconceived ideas. In fact, the personal mantra I use with my colleagues, “Bee
Different or Bee Dead” is heavily influenced by my time at Skidmore.”
In addition to his duties at Honeydrop, Luks lends his creativity and talent to others
as a consultant to several start-up companies in the consumer products industry.
He also serves as a marketing and development advisor to the I’m Too Young for This!
Cancer Foundation, the nation’s largest support community for cancer patients, survivors,
and caregivers between 15 and 40 years old.
Luks is a member of the New York City Chapter of the Skidmore Business Network.
“I am truly humbled by this award. Skidmore has a unique place in my heart, so for
me, this award is very special. In the corporate world, I was frequently typecast
as a numbers guy. So it is with great pride that I will now tell former colleagues
that I am, indeed, considered creative!”
50th Reunion Service Award - Jacqueline Jung ’61
Honors one member of the 50th Reunion Class who has demonstrated outstanding service
to the College.
When it comes to Skidmore, Jacki Jung ’61 can always be counted on to accept a challenge,
roll up her sleeves, and get the job done. This was evident when she was elected
as a freshman to become class president during sophomore year. Her first duty was
to uphold Skidmore tradition by inscribing the names and hometowns of 400 incoming
members of the freshman class on oilcloth bibs, to be worn for the entire first semester.
With characteristic resolve, Jung organized her twin brother and parents into an “efficient,
albeit low-paying, production line” and joined them to complete the project in a matter
of weeks.
As an alumna, she has accepted and met challenges on behalf of the College with dedication,
passion, and pluck for more than 30 years. A consummate fundraiser, Jung has excelled
in helping Skidmore advance its mission in multiple leadership roles, often juggling
many of them simultaneously.
At Skidmore, the sociology major recalls “the fun of learning from incredibly caring,
knowledgeable, and accessible faculty and the wonderful broad curriculum they taught.”
One course, in particular, gave Jung the opportunity to learn and practice essential
leadership and management skills. Hosted by General Electric at their Schenectady
headquarters, it served as the catalyst for her continued interest in honing professional
skills that complemented a strong liberal arts foundation. This background served
her well as she launched a 30-year career in public relations at New England Telephone,
now Verizon Communications.
Living in Boston in the mid-1980s and established in her profession, Jung felt it
was her time to do something for Skidmore “as a way of saying thank you” for all she
had gained from her education. “Since green has always been my favorite color,” she
quips, “naturally I gravitated to fundraising.” Her first forays were spent assisting
staff with Annual Fund phone-a-thons. That led to becoming a class agent, and later,
class fund chair. She also served on the Boston Regional Planning and Friends of
the Presidents Committees. Over time, it became clear that her ability to motivate
classmates could produce notable results. In 1991, she led her class to a then record-setting
30th-reunion Annual Fund gift. Soon thereafter, Jung was asked to join the alumni
association board of directors as chair of its reunion giving program, a role she
held until 1996. She also chaired the Reunion Giving Program Advisory Committee,
a group that worked with class agents and fund chairs, cheering on their efforts to
obtain pledges and gifts. Her leadership was instrumental in one of the most successful
reunion fundraising efforts to date—$1 million in total gifts from reunion classes.
Beyond the satisfaction of working with others to cultivate and share the finer points
of fundraising administration, Jung proudly says she received the “priceless gift”
of lifelong friendships with other alumnae, including former REGPAC members Deborah
Sehl Coons ’72, Sibyl Waterman Haley ’71, Kim West ’79, and the late Charlotte Smith
King ’35.
As class FOP chair for over 15 years, Jung drove fundraising campaigns for some very
special projects in honor of her past three reunions. To commemorate their 40th reunion
in 2001, the Class of 1961 dedicated the grand staircase in the Frances Young Tang
Teaching Museum and Art Gallery in memory of their classmate, the late Frances Young
Tang ’61. To mark their 45th in 2006, she, together with co-fund chairs Joan Horowitz
Behr ’61 and Linda Brafman Berke ’61, rallied classmates to support the establishment
of the Class of 1961 Term Professorship, which, for the last five years, has funded
the work of Professor of Health and Exercise Science Denise Smith, a nationally recognized
researcher and expert on the risks and causes of sudden cardiac events among firefighters.
This year, the trio galvanized classmates to celebrate their 50th reunion by working
toward one of key objectives of the College’s Strategic Plan: increasing the amount
of financial aid available to deserving students. As of this writing, the Class of
1961 is very proud to present its 50th reunion gift of between 40 and 45 scholarships,
which will be awarded over the next several years.
Jung has received her share of recognition. In 1995, she was interviewed for a video
celebrating the launch of The Skidmore Journey: A Campaign for Our Second Century.
When her remarks were screened during the campaign’s Boston kick-off celebration,
she received a standing ovation. In 1996, she was asked to chair the newly formed
alumni board Leadership Committee—she was then serving the College in six other volunteer
positions, including as a member of the board’s Nominating Committee. That year, it
came as no surprise that the alumni association chose to honor Jung with an Outstanding
Service Award.
She decided to return to Saratoga Springs in 2000 to be closer to her family and Skidmore.
In addition to a year-long stint on the alumni board in 2001, she immersed herself
in the life of the College as well as her new community. In addition to being class
FOP chair, she continues to serve on the National FOP Committee and its Executive
Committee. In 2004, the nascent SaratogaReads! organization asked Jung and Beverly
Becker, professor emerita of physical education, to serve as program liaisons for
the Saratoga Springs retirement community. Later, she and Florence Andresen ’57, trustee
emerita, served on the organization’s board of directors, managing public relations
and promotion. Jung is also a former board member of the Saratoga Springs Preservation
Foundation. For the past ten years, she has been a member of the Palamountain Scholarship
Benefit Auction Committee.
She also recalls with great fondness her student days on the original campus next
to Congress Park. “I loved living in the midst of the gorgeous Victorian homes on
Union Avenue, many of which were converted to become our dorms. And from my very first
day, I was impressed with the open friendliness and warmth of the other students and
knew I had chosen the right college. Back then, the only common meeting area on campus
was the bustling snack bar in Fathers’ Hall. We all spent a lot of time there between
classes and any serious issue of the day could be debated in that warm and welcoming
space.”
Jung says she is “most honored and humbled” to receive this award. “Volunteering my
time and energy to our College just seems like the right thing to do and, over the
years, I feel it has become a natural part of who I am. More important, I am privileged
and energized to work toward a common goal alongside two highly knowledgeable, committed,
and dedicated staff in the Development Office, specifically, Marny Krause and Lori
Eastman ’87. So today, this award belongs to each of them as well. For the consummate
skills and exceptional work ethic they exhibit, as well as the countless contributions
they have made, over many years, to ensure Skidmore’s successful Annual Fund results,
I commend you both and thank you for your wonderful guidance and friendship.”
Outstanding Service Award Recipients
Honors up to five members of the Skidmore community who have demonstrated outstanding service to the College. Each recipient must have served Skidmore for at least 10 years as an alumna/alumnus, trustee, faculty member, administrator, staff member, parent or friend.
Steven Cornell ’81
Steven Cornell ’81 knows something about building and leading teams. As a freshman
at Skidmore in 1977, he led a singular effort to transform men’s ice hockey from a
club sport into a varsity team. As starting goalie and team MVP, the history major
shaped the players into a cohesive force, persuaded the Athletic Department to upgrade
the team’s play schedule, partnered with Admissions to recruit players, and lobbied
the College for the support necessary to enter intercollegiate play. Named Most Dedicated
Player in 1979, ’80, and ’81, Cornell was team captain his junior and senior years,
returning as coach in 1982 to lead the team to dominance in national level collegiate
competition. Named MVP on the men’s lacrosse team in 1979, and Outstanding Defensive
Player and Quad Captain in 1981, he joined that team as assistant coach in 1982. That
year, he also coached the newly formed women’s ice hockey team through its first winning
season. In many ways, Cornell has never stopped serving in the roles of team builder,
leader, and coach on behalf of his alma mater; he has spent years galvanizing people
and resources to benefit a cause about which he is passionate—Skidmore Athletics.
Those early leadership experiences served Cornell well as he moved forward in his
banking career. After earning an M.B.A. in information systems from New Hampshire
College, he worked in IT for Bank Boston before moving on to National Iron Bank in
Salisbury, Conn., where he is executive vice president.He gives equal credit to the
quality of the liberal arts foundation he received at Skidmore. “Skidmore taught
me to think on my feet.” Cornell says he benefitted enormously from personal attention
from faculty; he recalls spending hours with the late Tad Kuroda, professor emeritus
of history, learning to refine his writing skills.
As an alumnus, Cornell has maintained a strong commitment to the men’s ice hockey
program. He played a key role in the establishment of its home facility, the Weibel
Avenue Ice Rink, in 1994. Rarely missing the annual alumni hockey game, he has kept
close ties with a network of former players. When budget cuts threatened the program
in late 2002, Cornell went to work rallying this group of former teammates and friends.
Along with brother Michael Cornell ’92 and Skidmore parents Jim Ricker and Joyce Benedict
Ricker ’69, he spearheaded a fundraising campaign that successfully helped to reinstate
the program in 2003. Those efforts, which involved gathering pledges as well as support
for an annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the Thoroughbred Cup and Golf and
Tennis Tournament, led to the reinvigoration of the Friends of Skidmore Athletics
(FOSA), an initiative that was established a decade earlier but had been dormant for
years. FOSA seeks to strengthen the entire spectrum of the College’s athletic offerings
and ensure that all student-athletes can compete and succeed at the highest levels.
Donors to FOSA can choose to support the overall program, specific athletic teams,
intramural activities, or fitness and recreational programming. Cornell signed on
as co-chair of the inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony dinner in 2004, continuing
in that role until 2007. He helped plan the FOSA Thoroughbred Cup Golf and Tennis
Tournament in 2006, and stepped up to chair the event in 2007 and 2008. That year,
Cornell also came on board as chair of the FOSA Committee. Since then, he has worked
to refine event programming and fundraising activities, enhance athletic facilities,
and carefully plan for the future of Skidmore Athletics. A special focus of Cornell’s
is extending the FOSA brand to current students and promoting their attendance at
athletic events. A tireless advocate that one staff member says “bleeds yellow and
green,” Cornell is intent on making support of athletics central to the College’s
culture.
Cornell continues to strenuously promote alumni involvement with Skidmore Athletics
and FOSA. “Athletics is a rallying point for an institution. Getting together with
other alumni to attend games generates school pride and greater connection to the
College.” He especially wants other former student athletes to know how rewarding
it can be to participate in FOSA events. “Working on the Thoroughbred Cup allowed
me the opportunity to play golf with alumni from a wide range of class years and work
toward a common cause. It was a great experience.” Clearly, Cornell believes in leading
by example. In addition to attending FOSA and on-campus sporting events, he is there
to cheer on Skidmore traveling teams whenever he can. Even a recent hip resurfacing
failed to stop him from playing in this year’s alumni hockey game.
He was inducted into FOSA’s Hall of Fame in 2006 with Special Recognition for his
efforts on behalf of the men’s ice hockey program.
In addition to his work on behalf of Skidmore Athletics, Cornell has served the College
in a range of other roles, including class Friends of the Presidents chair, member
of the alumni board Nominating Committee and the Reunion Giving Program Advisory Council,
reunion volunteer, and class agent.
It is his contributions to FOSA that make Cornell most proud. “What’s happened with
athletics at Skidmore has gone beyond my expectations. When I was a student, my dream
was for Skidmore to be able to play head to head with Union, St. Lawrence, and similar
schools. That has been achieved. Today, we have nationally ranked teams.”
He is gratified to be recognized for those contributions. “Winning this award is
an honor but the real reward is getting to watch women’s field hockey make it to the
Final Four, men’s basketball go to the NCAA Tournament, and the riding team emerge
as national champions. It’s seeing men’s ice hockey and men’s lacrosse get national
recognition—to witness all of our nationally ranked teams—that’s the payoff.”
Closer to home in Salisbury, Cornell serves his community as president of the Washington
Township Scholarship Fund. A former treasurer of the local Rotary, he was head hockey
coach at Shepaug High School for 12 years and continues to coach the Shepaug Goalie’s.
He also serves on The Litchfield Hills Lacrosse Board.
He and his wife, Sarah, are the parents of three children, Alexander, Nicholas, and
Christina. Nephew Ben Cornell ’11 is a member of the men’s lacrosse team.
Sandra Lipson ’71
Sandy Lipson ’71 arrived at Skidmore during a time of extraordinary change. In 1967,
the civil rights, anti-war, and women’s movements were transforming not only American
culture, but also life on campus. By the time she was a sophomore, a new group of
young faculty had arrived and the entire College curriculum was being reconstituted.
Lipson, who served as a student representative on a committee overseeing that process,
recalls the excitement of being given the opportunity to provide input that would
impact her own and other students’ education as well as College governance. “It was
a terrific and empowering circumstance,” she reflects. The English major, who graduated
with undeclared minors in theater and film, “spent four years with my brain wide open.
I think I was astounded by something every day, whether in the classroom or in the
world.” Her Skidmore experience laid the foundation for a mindset that values broad
thinking, experimentation, creativity, and the ability to make connections. That foundation
would serve her well as she built a career in corporate recruiting and human resources;
she retired in 2007 as vice president for strategic talent management at Fidelity
Investments in Boston. Today she works with social enterprises, helping them to build
organizational capability so that they can grow and achieve sustainability.
Lipson has also spent many years using her talents and experience to create lasting
connections—among ideas and people—to benefit the College and its alumni. From 2006
to 2010, she served as chair of career and professional development on the Alumni
Association Board of Directors. Partnering with the staff of the Office of Career
Services, she helped to promote and implement programming to assist students and alumni
in need of career guidance and resources. She helped shift the focus of its Real
World event from an etiquette dinner to an opportunity for students to learn about
effective networking and interviewing techniques from a panel of alumni in a range
of professions. More recently, she has participated in Career Jam, a successful career
exploration program sponsored by Parents Council, the President’s Advisory Council,
and Career Services.
She has also reached out on her own to help alumni and students navigate career pathways.
During Reunion 2008, she developed and delivered (along with current chair of career
and professional development Louise Mallette ’74) a life and career transition workshop
for baby boomers. In that same year, she created and presented “The Art and Science
of Networking”, a session held during Celebration Weekend for students and their parents.
Lipson, who continues as a member of the Career Network, regularly coaches and makes
connections for students and recent graduates. Hearing back from students whom she
has helped, she says, “gives me great joy.”
A passion for the intersection of art and ideas drew her interest to the Frances Young
Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery; she has been a member of its National Advisory
Council since 2004. As a past member of NAC’s marketing committee, she helped promote
the museum’s fifth anniversary in 2005 and continues to develop and implement strategies
for increasing its visibility nationwide. Much of Lipson’s work involves partnering
with Susan Rabinowitz Malloy ’45 Curator Ian Berry and Dayton Director and Professor
of Liberal Studies John Weber in efforts to engage alumni, parents, and those in the
art world with the museum and its offerings. She serves as an advocate and ambassador,
often making productive introductions among these groups. Closer to home, Lipson organizes
networking events for Boston-area alumni artists and gallery owners. Currently she
chairs the NAC’s governance committee, working to formalize a leadership structure
that promotes the recruitment of new members and fosters diverse perspectives.
Her diverse portfolio of alumna volunteer activities includes her role as a founding
member and supporter of World Class, an organization started by Judy Willsey ’71 and
Barbara Tsairis ’71, now joined on the board by Mimi Freund Tilton ‘71 and Chris Werner
‘71, that provides access to credit, clean water, and sanitation to communities in
greater Amasaman, Ghana. Along with Deborah BozBeckian Raptopoulos ’71, Lipson served
as an advisor during the launch and early development of the organization. She continues
to be a strong supporter, and dedicated her 60th birthday party, which she themed
“Dance to My Loo,” to fundraising for the organization’s first latrine project.
Lipson has also spent time serving as a class agent, and reunion volunteer. She remains
a familiar and welcoming presence at regional club, Tang, Career Network, and Skidmore
Business Network events.
She values the constellation of Skidmore relationships she has cultivated over the
years, including former and current members of the faculty and administration. Lipson
is clear that her work as an alumna volunteer is not primarily about giving. In fact,
she considers it a self-serving pursuit. “The opportunities I’ve had to engage with
Skidmore feed my intellect, support my interests, expand my professional capabilities,
and enhance my social/cultural life. Looking across these four decades, it makes the
original tuition expenditure one of the best financial values ever.”
Humbled by this award, Lipson is, nonetheless, gratified by the appreciation she receives
from the Skidmore community, and she recommends to all alumni that they think about
engaging with the College in ways they may not have considered or known was possible
before. “The benefit derived is absolutely mutual.”
Ellen Rein Goldin ’61
Ellen Rein Goldin ’61 fondly recalls the late Phil Krawiec, professor of psychology,
punctuating his lectures with the observation, “As you get older, you become more
and more of what you are.” Goldin is inclined to agree. She is also certain that
her Skidmore experience played a critical role in shaping her life. The psychology
major discovered a passion for French language and cultural studies that she continues
to cultivate in weekly French classes—“an ongoing source of joy.” An introductory
art history course with Professor Emeritus of Art Peter Baruzzi, “opened my mind to
an understanding of the creative process,” knowledge that Goldin has drawn upon throughout
her diverse careers in finance, arts administration, and volunteerism. “Most of all,
Skidmore is the place where I became independent, began to take charge of my life,
and learned to take responsibility for my choices.”
Those choices included heading to New York City after graduation, where she did a
stint as personnel counselor before working as an administrative assistant and then
stock broker for Prudential-Bache Inc. After time off to raise sons Edward and Spencer
’93, she accepted a position as special projects coordinator for the Westchester Council
for the Arts, a job she loved. For one initiative, Goldin brought together third-grade
students, published poets, and nursing home residents for a poetry workshop celebrating
grandparents. She notes, “I learned a lot about the importance of doing what you are
passionate about from observing Skidmore faculty.”
Throughout the years, Goldin’s passion for serving the College as an alumna volunteer
has never wavered. Immediately after graduation, she agreed to serve as an admissions
correspondent and then steadily expanded her focus to take on a remarkable array of
volunteer positions and leadership roles.
A dedicated and seasoned fundraiser, she started as a class agent and then rallied
classmates to support the College as a two-term member of her class’s Annual Alumni
Giving Leadership Committee. In 1985, she signed on as a member of the Westchester
County Regional Campaign Committee for the Celebration Campaign, playing a key role
in expanding the donor base in that region.
Beginning in 1993, she served as a National Screening volunteer and member of the
National Leadership Gifts Committee during Skidmore’s Journey Campaign and helped
drive efforts that yielded a record-shattering number of donors and gifts. In 1995,
she stepped up to serve two terms as a member of the National Friends of the Presidents
Committee, maintaining a promise to “keep spreading the message about supporting Skidmore.”
Goldin has also spent considerable time working in partnership with the Office of
Admissions. A longtime admissions correspondent, she served two terms as Westchester
County Admissions Correspondents chair. She was also a member of the Admissions Task
Force.
Her desire to ensure and enhance the quality of the student experience led Goldin
to join Parents Council in 1990.
In 1992, she further deepened her involvement with the College when she accepted a
four-year commitment to serve as an alumna trustee. In this role, she helped formulate
and implement initiatives that enhanced support for scholarships, athletics, the sciences,
distinguished professorships, and the reconstruction of Scribner Library. Goldin says
the experience gave her a new understanding of Skidmore and its culture. “I discovered
that the College is constantly evolving and always open to new ideas.” She also witnessed
her board colleagues guiding Skidmore through a period of remarkable growth. “It
was exhilarating to work with a group of people so committed to doing the best possible
job for the College.”
She also spearheaded the establishment of the Westchester Alumni Club and served as
its president. A longtime reunion volunteer, she was co-class historian for her 45th
reunion in 2006.
Goldin has been a supporter of Skidmore scholarships for many years. Last May, in
honor of her 70th birthday, her husband, Joel, established the Ellen Rein Goldin ’61
Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides support for students with financial need
who demonstrate exemplary academic achievement.
Her dedication to Skidmore has been passed on to son Spencer ’93, who has served on
the alumni board of directors, Young Alumni Task Force, Friends of the Presidents
Committee, and Reunion Giving Program Advisory Council. He received the Porter Award
for Young Alumni Volunteerism in 2003.
Goldin has also used her skills as an organizer and fundraiser to benefit her community.
She leads a monthly book club, via conference call, for elderly, homebound, and visually
impaired people. For two years, she coordinated the annual Literary Symposium at
Westchester Community College in Valhalla, N.Y. She is a former board member of the
Pleasantville Music Theater and was a founding member of the Friends of the Greenburgh
Public Library.
As for her award, Goldin reflects, “It is so nice to be recognized for something you
love doing. All my experiences at Skidmore since graduation—attending reunions, renewing
friendships, even presenting the Skidmore Cup at the Saratoga Race Course—have contributed
to making this occasion one that I shall always cherish.”
Alexandra “Sandy” Linen Halsey ’56
“There is so much to be said about a liberal arts education,” remarks Alexandra “Sandy”
Linen Halsey ’56. At Skidmore, she started out majoring in music. She has vivid memories
of a harmony class with Hoyt Irwin, former professor and department chair, in which
students had to “perform on command.” The class was difficult, but what she learned
there has proven useful over the years. Ultimately, Halsey found the music major “too
disciplined,” and switched her major to English, thinking it “would be more beneficial
for the rest of my life.” After graduation, she worked at Oxford University Press
before getting married and starting a family. She and her late husband, Tony, had
four children—three of whom went to Skidmore: Wendy ’82, Anthony ’87, and William
’89 (he married alumna Rebecca Shimkin Halsey ’91, daughter of Suzanne Elsesser ’60).
The Halseys served as co-chairs of the Parents Council and later signed on as alumni
parent chairs.
In the 1960s, as a member of the Junior League in Summit, N.J., Halsey was on a planning
committee that looked into how a rubella epidemic affected babies. “The mothers had
contacted German measles while pregnant, and their babies were born deaf or learning-impaired,”
she recalls. “We established the Summit Speech School for preschool children, using
auditory training rather than signing. We taught them to use whatever residual hearing
they had and then to speak orally. This was the only school of its kind in the metropolitan
area.” Halsey volunteered in the classroom for years and says, “it was rewarding to
hear a child finally speak.” She later became secretary of the board, then vice president,
and president. She is proud of her service with the school and says it is still thriving
today. Most of the 40 or more children there will “mainstream to regular schools and
lead a fairly normal life—quite an accomplishment.”
In New Jersey, Halsey also served on the board of Morristown-Beard School, where her
son was enrolled and where she herself had been a student. After moving to Mystic,
Conn., she volunteered at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London and then became
a board member. For more than six years, she held various jobs, including coordinating
volunteers and running three galas. She currently volunteers two weekends a year
at Mystic Seaport and serves on the Development Committee at the Mystic Arts Center.
Halsey’s involvement with Skidmore dates back to her time in New Jersey, where she
was president of the Central New Jersey Alumni Club. Upon relocating to Connecticut,
Halsey discovered that the Skidmore club in the Mystic area was inactive. The College
sent her a list of alumni in the area, and she and her friend, the late Nancy Ryon
Richardz ’56, organized several functions at the Old Lyme Inn, owned by a fellow Skidmore
graduate.
Currently a class agent, Halsey has served as class president, reunion chair, class
fund chair, class FOP chair, and reunion fund chair. Now accustomed to phoning classmates
for annual giving, she admits, “I used to groan when I knew I had to make those calls,
but once I started, I loved talking with everyone and catching up with their lives.”
With Skidmore such a family affair for Halsey, she has been able to spend a lot of
time in Saratoga Springs and says she’s been “amazed and pleased with how the new
campus has changed and evolved. I loved the old campus, but what a wonderful decision
it was to move. It is beautiful today.”
A highlight in her work for the College, Halsey attests, was being class president
for the fiftieth-reunion celebration—an experience she will “remember dearly.” She
adds, “Skidmore has been very important in my life, and I am so grateful to be deemed
worthy of the Outstanding Service Award. To be recognized by the Skidmore community
in this manner makes my 55 years of service feel very special.”
Joan Agisim Odes ’66
When it comes to her alma mater, Joan Agisim Odes ’66 is the first to say, “Skidmore
has influenced me in pretty much every area of my life since 1962.” As an undergrad,
she took all the social work courses she could and majored in sociology, since a social
work major was not offered at the time.
“I grew up in a relatively homogeneous town, and sociology opened my eyes to the different
kinds of lives people live, especially regarding poverty and the causes and effects
of it,” she says. Odes went on to earn a master’s in social work from Rutgers University
in 1968 and a certificate in psychotherapy from the Alfred Adler Institute in 1976
before working at a family service agency and then going into private practice in
psychotherapy in 1984.
She notes, “Although I chose a career in clinical social work rather than working
with the economically depressed, what I learned at Skidmore also informed my political
views in many ways.” In particular, she cites former Sociology Professors Howard Abramowitz
and Elizabeth Ferguson as being influential in both her academic and personal development.
“They were very unlike each other, but they each connected with me in a deep and meaningful
way.”
Odes specializes in individual and marital therapy. She was previously a casework
supervisor at the Jewish Family Service Agency of Central New Jersey for ten years.
In the mid 1970s, she was involved with the United Jewish Appeal of Essex County,
NJ, including two years as a board member of the Women’s division, co-chair of the
Young Women’s division, and co-chair of the Business and Professional Women’s division.
She also sat on the board for a number of organizations, including the New Jersey
Society for Adlerian Psychology, the Alfred Adler Institute of NYC, the West Orange
Public Education Committee, and the Playhouse Nursery School. Odes is currently a
disaster preparedness volunteer for the New York City Medical Reserve Corps.
Her volunteer efforts have included serving Skidmore in various capacities since
1966. As a Reunion Committee member, she has worked on every class reunion from her
fifth to the current 45th. She has also been a class agent, class fund chair for ten
years, Friends of the Presidents chair for her 25th reunion, and a member of the Reunion
Giving Program Advisory Council. In addition, she has been president of the Class
of 1966 for the past ten years.
Despite her longtime dedication to Skidmore, Odes says, “If someone asked me as a
student, I could not have foreseen the tie that I developed with the College. It started
out slowly, not many years after graduation.” Over the decades, she has stayed connected
with her Skidmore roommates, who she considers among her closest friends, and others
she knew as a student. And with her extensive volunteer work, her circle of contacts
has widened to include graduates from other classes as well—among them the classmates
of her daughter, Naomi Odes Aytur ’94.
“I enjoy being part of what Skidmore is and was, and what it is becoming,” says Odes.
“One aspect of Skidmore that I have always admired is the ability to move and grow—and
also take chances, which has prevented the College from becoming stodgy and irrelevant.
I want my own excitement about the school to be contagious to other people, and to
have them share the fun and pride I feel about being connected to Skidmore.”
Michael Sposili
Mike Sposili is a firm believer in the power of relationship-building to create robust
communities that support their members, individually and collectively, in the attainment
of common goals. For more than a decade, he has dedicated himself to building and
enhancing a framework within which Skidmore alumni engagement with one another and
the College has flourished.
As director of the Office of Alumni Affairs and College Events, Sposili oversees a
team that creates opportunities for alumni to connect in many ways—including by attending
events such as Reunion Weekend, Skidmore Business Network meetings, the Friends of
Skidmore Athletics Hall of Fame Benefit, and regional gatherings. Sposili and his
staff also enable alumni to stay in touch by offering career networking and travel
programs and access to online interaction via Skidmore Connect, the College’s alumni
social network.
Sposili came to Skidmore with a distinguished career in higher education administration,
including positions such as executive director of college relations at Hartwick College,
of which he is an alumnus, and assistant vice president for admissions and financial
aid at The Sage Colleges.
At Skidmore, he quickly set to work forging partnerships across campus and within
the alumni community, helping to develop and launch innovative initiatives that have
re-engaged alumni with the College and changed the nature of the alumni experience,
both on and off campus.
He worked with the alumni association board of directors and its former president,
Beverly Harrison Miller ’67, to establish the Colton Alumni Welcome Center, giving
alumni a dedicated place to relax and orient themselves while visiting campus. Partnering
with donor Lee Peyser ’81 and former Director of Athletics Jeffrey Segrave, Sposili
helped create the Skidmore Athletics Hall of Fame in the Williamson Sports and Recreation
Center, the first space on campus created to honor the College’s athletic history.
In 2005, he identified the emerging, alumni-driven Skidmore Business Network as a
critical resource for alumni seeking career and business opportunities. Partnering
with founder Frits Abell ’94 and other alumni, he continues to provide support that
has helped SBN to thrive.
Sposili also joined forces with alumni volunteers and on-campus partners to coordinate
the College’s Centennial Celebration and the Inauguration of President Philip A. Glotzbach
in 2003.
As chief staff liaison to the alumni association board of directors, he has worked
closely with three board presidents. Known as a consummate facilitator, he provides
board members with what they need to achieve their goals—and does it all with exemplary
skill and a warm personal touch.
Board president Judy Roberts Kunisch ’69 observes, “Mike is first and foremost an
alumni affairs professional. He understands the importance of alumni relations in
terms of strengthening the relationships between alumni and the College. As the largest
active constituency in the College community, alumni are critical to promoting the
image of the College in areas far and wide. Mike plans, staffs, and executes events
across the country. He is innovative and creative, thorough and complete. Mike is
also fun to work with; he truly enjoys his work and Skidmore alumni!”
Former board president Deborah Sehl Coons ’72 recalls Sposili’s initial interview
with the board. “What struck me then was his earnest desire to connect—such a great
natural attribute!—and his empathy and sincerity. Mike is truly genuine and that quality
is critical to making the volunteer experience successful. He manages to strike the
delicate balance between promoting the alumni and the administration’s agendas, which
are not always in sync, with unfailing good humor and grace. On any issue before
the board, Mike ensures that alumni feedback is solicited, and gives it serious and
due consideration. Although he is able to translate sometimes necessary compromise
into a win-win situation, he’s never failed to put the board and the alumni association
first. Mike’s partnership with the board has been key to attracting and retaining
board members during his tenure.”
Former board president Beverly Harrison Miller ’67 reflects, “It was clear to all
of us on the board from the start that Mike has an uncommon ability to forge relationships.
He was relaxed and intuitively sensed that his relationship with the board would be
one of partner rather than board and staff member. Over the course of my two terms
as board president, we spoke regularly, and I tremendously valued his counsel as we
worked together to serve all of Skidmore's alumni.”
Sposili says these and other relationships he developed with alumni over the years
have been the most rewarding part of his work. “I have thoroughly enjoyed them.
Whether working with the members of the alumni board or class, regional, or reunion
volunteers, our collective goal has been constant—to strengthen the connection that
alumni feel to the College and help them as well as future alumni (our students) realize
that Skidmore is a transformational place.”
He is encouraged by changes he has witnessed over the past decade in the way alumni
view their relationship to the College. “I believe that our alumni have become increasing
aware and proud of the unique and prominent place that Skidmore occupies within the
higher educational marketplace. The brand Creative Thought Matters has helped generate
a greater sense of connection to the College. In the daily work of the Alumni Affairs
and College Events staff, however, we’ve coined our own variation: Relationships Matter.
We are dedicated to strengthening the relationships that our alumni have with Skidmore
and with one another.”
Sposili says he is “quite humbled and truly honored” to receive this award. He adds,
“Working in partnership with alumni and the exceptional staff members within the Office
of the Alumni Affairs and College Events team to serve the alumni community is a challenging
and rewarding experience that I look forward to each and every day.”
He is a member of the North East Alumni Relations group and the Council for Advancement
and Support of Education. He and his wife, Michele, live in Clifton Park, NY, with
daughters Alison and Lauren.
Honorary Alumnus Award Recipients
This award is presented from time to time to honor and acknowledge the extraordinary
efforts of a non-alumna/us to promote the success of Skidmore College. The honoree
also demonstrates through professional, personal, civic or philanthropic pursuits
the values that the alumni association and Skidmore promote. The award is presented
on reunion weekend and includes honorary membership in the Skidmore College Alumni
Association and an alumni association ring.
Robert Ladd
Skidmore College has been a part of Bob Ladd’s life ever since he can remember. The
son of the late Helen Filene Ladd ’22, trustee emerita, recalls that “whenever my
father couldn’t find my mother, he would say, ‘Well, it must have something to do
with Skidmore.’” Ladd understood and shares his mother’s intense devotion to the place
she considered her “other home.” For more than three decades, Ladd, a trustee emeritus,
has worked to preserve and build upon the legacies of service and philanthropy established
by her and the Filene-Ladd family.
A Bard College graduate with a doctorate in education from the University of Virginia,
Ladd did post doctoral work at the University of Oxford in England before launching
a career as an educational consultant. He remembers that when he arrived on campus
as a new trustee in 1978, “there were almost as many construction vehicles as there
were students.” The College was in the process of transformation—from an all women’s
school to a coeducational institution on a brand new campus—and he quickly lent his
expertise and passion to guiding its growth.
Along with other members of his family, Ladd was deeply committed to carrying forward
the vision of his parents, George and Helen Filene Ladd, to strengthen the music program
at Skidmore. Working with former Chair of the Department of Music Isabelle Williams
and former Director of Planned Giving Don Richards, the family set out to find a way
to attract students of the highest caliber of musicianship to Skidmore. In 1981,
they facilitated the creation of the Filene Music Scholarship Program, which recruits
and funds talented students from across the country to study and perform with distinguished
teachers and guest artists while pursuing a liberal arts education. Throughout the
years, Bob Ladd has always been on hand to personally cheer on young musicians at
the Filene Competition each spring and the performances of select Filene Scholars
in the fall. He has cultivated close and enduring relationships with many of them.
Ladd has faithfully served as an ambassador for the scholarship program to parents,
prospective students, and alumni.
“The success of the Filene Music Scholarship Program,” observes Isabelle Williams,
“certainly contributed to the growth of the Music Department. The funding came at
a propitious moment, breathing new life into the music program at a time when national
funding for the arts was being taken away.”
Ladd was also there to help as the Music Department outgrew its home in the Filene
Music Building. Recognizing the need for greater performance space and seeing the
opportunity to fulfill his mother’s dream of creating a first-class recital hall at
Skidmore, he again took up the role of key advisor and advocate for the College, helping
to secure support from the Filene-Ladd family and the Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation
for the establishment of the Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall in the Arthur Zankel Music
Center.
A member of the Infrastructure, Special Programs, Advancement, and Student Life Committees
on the board of trustees, he worked on numerous initiatives that moved the College
forward on a remarkable trajectory toward its position as a top-ranked national liberal
arts institution. As a member of the Student Life Committee, on which he served continuously
throughout his tenure as a trustee, Ladd was committed to ensuring that students received
fair representation and the opportunity to have their voices heard at board meetings.
He spent countless hours in the Murray and Aikens dining halls and Case Center listening
to and encouraging them.
Former Skidmore President David Porter observes, “Bob Ladd has always felt it crucial
for trustees and students to get to know each other, and year after year he worked
to make this happen. He arrived before board meetings started or stayed after they
ended in order to arrange times when interested students could meet with him. Before,
during, and after campus events, one continues to see Bob engaging in lively conversation
with groups of students. Students often think of themselves as the last people to
whom a trustee would wish to talk; Bob Ladd has for decades sent the opposite message—that
Skidmore is above all about students, that he loves meeting and talking with them,
and that doing so was essential to his work as a board member.”
Former Dean of Student Affairs Pat Oles agrees. “Bob always wanted to hear from students
while he considered questions before the board. To his credit, he would also speak
directly and frankly to them, even when he was taking an opposing view. His long history
at the College and personal warmth gave him a special status; informal historian,
wise elder, and trusted advisor.”
A firm believer in the power of personal interaction, Ladd also forged important and
enduring connections with parents, alumni, faculty, and staff.
Indeed, Ladd feels strongly that many of his most important contributions took place
outside the board room. “I made myself available to those at the College who had need
and asked them what the board could do to help them. I preferred to do this informally,
on a one-on-one basis. That’s what my mother did. It was more than just committee
assignments. I simply devoted myself to getting done what needed to be done.”
In 2007, the board of trustees presented him with the Denis B. Kemball-Cook Award
for his service to the College, lauding him for his “wisdom, fierce loyalty, warm-hearted
generosity, and abiding affection for students.”
He says he is happy to have played a part in the physical and intellectual development
of the College. “There has been a significant amount of construction, but the greater
change has been the academic one. The faculty, administration, and the board of trustees
have worked continually to upgrade academic programs, resulting in national and international
recognition of Skidmore.”
In addition to membership in numerous professional organizations, Ladd has served
as chairman of Central Maine Guidance Council and chairman of the Education Committee
of the Board of Trustees of Green Fields School in Tucson, Ariz. He is a board member
of the Friends of the State Museum in Augusta, Maine.
He has passed the family tradition of service to Skidmore on to son Bill Ladd ’83,
a trustee who is vice chair of the Student Life Committee and a member of the President’s
Advisory Council, formerly Council of 100. Bill has also taken on the role of Filene
Scholarship Program ambassador. A two-term chair of reunions on the alumni association
board of directors, Bill is a longtime class, club, and reunion volunteer. Like his
father, he is unabashedly devoted to Skidmore.
Bob Ladd is delighted to be recognized as an honorary Skidmore alumnus. “I have had
quite an education in the development of Skidmore. The College is a particular love
of mine—it is very unique. Because I have lived with Skidmore most of my life, the
feeling of pride in receiving this honor is immense.”
James Ricker
Jim Ricker is first and foremost a proud Skidmore father. Inpartnership with his wife,
Joyce Benedict Ricker ’69, the Hamilton College alumnus enthusiastically supported
sons Jason ’91, Justin ’96, and Evan ’97 in their athletic careers at Skidmore. Jason,
a member of the men’s ice hockey team, was men’s baseball team MVP his senior year.
Justin played on the men’s ice hockey team for four years, helping to bring home three
consecutive Eastern College Athletic Conference South championships for the Thoroughbreds.
Evan played lacrosse and captained the men’s ice hockey team, helping to capture four
ECAC South championships. Over the years, Ricker not only spent countless hours cheering
them on, he also formed close bonds with the other athletes and their families. When
the men’s ice hockey program was threatened by budget cuts in 2002, he drew upon those
connections to help save the program—and in the process, built a foundation for a
new level of support and recognition of Skidmore Athletics.
In the fall of 2002, the Rickers spearheaded an intense campaign to rally alumni and
parents around Men’s Ice Hockey. Together with Steven Cornell ’81 and Michael Cornell
’92, they helped raise an unprecedented amount of financial support for the program
in just two months. With thoughtful determination, Ricker communicated the group’s
level of commitment to newly appointed President Philip A. Glotzbach and other college
administrators. Those efforts resulted in the reinstatement of the men’s ice hockey
program in 2003. Ricker reflects, “It was a wonderful experience—being energized
by the passion of the alumni (and even hockey players from other colleges) who could
not imagine Skidmore without this terrific sport. I also learned that Skidmore was
very fortunate to have Phil Glotzbach as its new President. During this process,
he was approachable, compassionate, and not afraid to change his mind.”
Ricker then graciously partnered with the administration to revive the Friends of
Skidmore Athletics (FOSA), an initiative started in the 1990s. FOSA is comprised
of a committee of alumni, parents, and friends who work with the athletic director
and Advancement staff to promote the ongoing enhancement of the College’s athletics
program. Its mission is to ensure that student-athletes are able to compete and succeed
at the highest levels.
As co-chair (along with Joyce) of the FOSA Committee from its inception in 2003 to
2007, Ricker helped to develop a robust fundraising structure and cultivate a group
of dynamic volunteers, while generously leading the way with gifts. He helped drive
the establishment of the Annual Friends of Skidmore Athletics Benefit and Hall of
Fame Induction Ceremony, and the Thoroughbred Cup Golf and Tennis Tournament, both
highly successful events that continue to draw new members into the FOSA family and
unite alumni, coaching staff, and current student athletes in new opportunities for
collaboration.
He helped promote the creation of the Skidmore Athletics Hall of Fame (donated by
Lee Peyser ’81 and Cathy Peyser) in the Sports and Recreation Center. The Hall of
Fame has honored student-athletes, teams, and staff from across six decades of Skidmore
athletic history.
Ricker also developed a strong partnership with the Department of Athletics, Fitness,
and Recreation and its director, Gail Cummings-Danson, helping to identify, plan,
and implement major initiatives that address the ongoing needs of the athletics program.
Since 2008, he has served as FOSA representative on the Athletics Committee on Facilities,
a body that helps ensure the growth and enhancement of athletic facilities needed
to attract top-level student-athletes to the College. He is playing a key role in
the development of an athletic facilities master plan that will ensure Skidmore remains
competitive into the future.
Ricker is delighted with the progress made towards improving the athletic experience
at Skidmore over his tenure as a FOSA volunteer. He points to the renovation and
upgrading of the Williamson Sports Center and Wachenheim Field and the addition of
new softball and field hockey fields. “These facilities are comparable to any of
the schools with whom Skidmore competes.” In addition, says Ricker, “Each team now
has its own coach, the training staff has grown and provides support to several teams
for away games, and travel conditions are much better. In short, the quality of life
for a Skidmore athlete has greatly improved—making it special to be competing for
Skidmore.”
Cummings-Danson credits Ricker’s work as a major catalyst for that improvement. “Skidmore
Athletics would simply not be at the point where we currently find ourselves without
the involvement of Jim Ricker. His dedication, passion and commitment to Skidmore
College, and in particular, Skidmore Athletics is second to none. The many ways in
which he has contributed to the overall progress of our department is inspirational
and we feel truly blessed to have someone with his resolve champion our cause.”
In 2007, the Rickers were presented with the FOSA MVP Award in recognition of their
commitment to enhancing the Skidmore athletic experience and promoting excellence
across all programs. They were inducted into the FOSA Hall of Fame with Special Recognition
for their dedication to Skidmore Athletics in 2008. Last year, they were joined by
son Evan, who was inducted along with other members of the 1996-97 men’s ice hockey
team.
Jim and Joyce have never missed a FOSA event, faithfully attend alumni hockey games,
and make time to support the men’s ice hockey team—on campus and at away games.
Ricker’s service to Skidmore, however, extends beyond athletics. A real estate consultant
for Boston-based CRESA Partners, he helps students and alumni interested in that field
as an Office of Career Services’ Career Network mentor. He has also evaluated student
business plans as a judge for the Department of Management and Business course MB
107. He is a familiar presence at Boston area alumni regional and career networking
events.
Among the rewards of his long association with Skidmore, Ricker says, are the close
relationships he has built with many of his sons’ former teammates and their families,
whom he enjoys seeing at alumni games. “I’m particularly moved by watching these
young men develop into husbands, fathers, and citizens.”
He has also enjoyed getting to know coaches, trainers, and other member of Skidmore’s
athletics staff. “We have a dedicated and talented group of people working with our
student-athletes, he observes. “I have had the great privilege of knowing and working
with three athletic directors, Tim Brown, Jeff Segrave, and Gail Cummings-Danson.
They have all made a huge impact on Skidmore Athletics: Tim in building the department
during times of tight budgets and outright opposition from some who did not see the
value of athletics in a liberal arts education, Jeff for ushering the department through
a time of transition at several levels within the College, and Gail for looking for
excellence in all 19 sports as evidenced by the performance of the teams, and more
importantly, for stressing academics. Skidmore athletes now carry a higher GPA than
the general student body and nearly half of athletes become members of the Thoroughbred
Society by achieving a GPA of 3.67 and higher.”
He is especially gratified to “witness Skidmore openly recognize athletics as an integral
part of a quality liberal arts education—the institution has evolved tremendously.”
Ricker is honored to be recognized by alumni for his contributions to helping elevate
the status of athletics at the College. “It means that these efforts have made a difference
to a much broader part of the Skidmore community than I realized. When Joyce and
I were inducted into the Hall of Fame, I realized what our efforts meant to the athletics
community. But discovering that our work is meaningful to the College’s greater alumni
body is extremely moving.”
Joseph C. Palamountain Award for Young Alumni Achievement - Jessa Blades ’01
Honors one alumna/us graduated one to 10 years who has utilized his or her Skidmore
education in a quest for excellence demonstrated by personal achievement. The recipient
must have a continuing concern for the Skidmore community.
Jessa Blades ’01 is widely regarded as a pioneer in the eco-beauty movement, a trend
towards the use of natural, environmentally friendly cosmetics and personal care products.
While working as a makeup artist in the fashion industry, she learned about the health
and environmental risks posed by toxic ingredients contained in traditional cosmetics
and began doing extensive research into healthier and “greener” alternatives. Armed
with a conviction that a woman shouldn’t have to choose between health and beauty,
nor ignore her conscience, she founded Blades Natural Beauty in 2008. The New York
City-based company provides consultation and makeup artistry services using only natural
and organic products to clients in the beauty and fashion industries as well as to
individuals. As her business has grown, so has Blades’ role as a leading advocate
for empowering women to make healthy choices about cosmetics.
While at Skidmore, the psychology major (who also studied studio art) discovered she
could combine her interests into a career as a makeup artist. “I think of it as creating
art on people—I work on half-painted canvases, with personalities and facial features,
and my goal is to help women look and feel their best, and thereby enhance their self
esteem.”
After graduating from Complexions Makeup Artistry School in Toronto, Canada, in 2002,
she worked for MAC Cosmetics. She did a stint as the sole makeup artist on the U.S.
Virgin Island of St. John before heading to New York City, where she worked in the
fashion and beauty industries.
There, she discovered that many traditional beauty products contain toxic ingredients,
which brought her into serious conflict with the profession she loves. Not only could
these products threaten women’s health, but they are also harmful to the environment.
Most disheartening, there is virtually no information on the products to alert consumers
to their potential danger. “I was truly surprised to find out that, even with all
of my education and training in makeup and beauty, I didn’t know about these ingredients.
And if I didn’t know, other women would likely not be aware either.” Blades began
exhaustive research into cosmetics and personal care products, culling out those with
harmful chemicals and identifying natural, environmentally friendly brands. Drawing
up on a keen interest in medicinal herbs, she handcrafted a line of plant-based products
that promote healing. These efforts culminated in the decision to launch her own company.
She now offers consultation and makeup artistry services using only natural and organic
products to individuals for weddings and photo shoots in addition to helping clients
in the fashion and beauty industries embrace “green beauty.”
For Blades, building her business isn’t enough. She says she is driven to spread
the message that women “can look and feel their best without harming their bodies
or the environment.”
She spends a lot of time conducting workshops that teach women how to select and use
beauty products wisely, without sacrificing well being or glamour. “It’s my mission
to educate women about how to look like the best version of themselves, using the
absolute best products available.”
A longtime environmental activist and advocate for women’s health, Blades has used
her expertise to help inform multiple generations of consumers. She works as a lead
consultant to Teens Turning Green and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, both non-profit
organizations committed to making the use of makeup and personal care products a healthier
experience for girls and women.
She has also emerged as a go-to expert in natural beauty. A frequent contributor to
Vogue.com, and Whole Living, Natural Health, Organic Spa, and Elegant Bride magazines,
Blades has appeared on NBC’s Today Show and PAPERmag.com. In 2009, she was featured
as one of Glamour magazine’s 70 Amazing Eco-Heroes, and this year, was selected Best
Green Makeup Artist by sustainability multimedia source TreeHugger.
She appreciates the opportunity to reach greater numbers of women but values most
the personal interaction with clients. “The most gratifying part of working with
natural products is when people tell me that I’ve opened their eyes to thinking about
what they put on their body. Something I’ve said has stuck with them and they have
made real changes—when that happens, it makes me feel like I am effecting real change,
one person at a time. My ultimate goal is to help women feel and look better and by
doing this, shift the billion dollar beauty industry in a healthier direction.”
Blades credits the interdisciplinary foundation she received at Skidmore for helping
her to “weave my own personal path” towards a fulfilling career. “My Skidmore education
allowed me to enjoy learning, to first study what I was interested in without pressure
to make sense of how it would all work out in the end. I was encouraged to combine
my interests in art, psychology, business, and sociology. My professors taught me
that everything was connected and I trusted them—and took them up on it.”
Over the years, she has continued to stay connected to her alma mater. An alumni admissions
contact, she interviews prospective Skidmore students in the New York City area and
is also an active member of the Skidmore Business Network’s New York City Chapter.
Her Skidmore connections also run in the family. Her mother, Betsy Smith, is a parent
volunteer who also conducts admissions interviews; she formerly served as vice president
of community service for Skidmore’s Philadelphia Regional Alumni Club. Brother Ethan
Blades ’07 is an alumni admissions contact in the Philadelphia area and sister Wesley
Blades ’10 is a graduate of Skidmore’s University Without Walls program.
“Winning this award is truly an honor. To be recognized by Skidmore for all of my
hard work is a truly rewarding, full circle experience. I owe so much to the institution
and my professors, as well as to the friends I made here. Working as hard as I do
running my own business, I can sometimes feel isolated in my own bubble. It was a
very special surprise to learn that Skidmore is not only curious about what I’m doing,
but is making the effort to both honor me for it and remind me that I am still a part
of the College community.”