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social workers and other mental health professionals to better recognize and deal with the emotional needs of cancer patients and survivors. Its cutting-edge research into psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship issues is channeled into training that is offered to CSC staff and other oncology health-care professionals around the country. Patient quality of life, doctor-patient communication, treatment decision-making, and adherence to lifestyle recommendations are some of the areas explored by the institute’s research. Most recently, CSC has been recruiting cancer patients and survivors to answer questions about their social and emotional experiences and needs for the Cancer Experience Registry. The project aims to raise awareness among the research community, health-care providers, patient advocates, and policy makers about the social and emotional challenges of people affected by cancer and to identify gaps in care. Through research, Jill observes, “we will uncover new evidence about what people impacted by cancer need in order to live better lives. And through training, we will disseminate these fndings to the cancer community at large. This is how we will make our biggest impact.” Jill’s work as an advocate for cancer patients takes her to Capitol Hill to work with legislators to support continued improvements in cancer care. “Government can be a positive force in creating change, and I have seen it work in the area of cancer care. And yes, my early studies at Skidmore did spark my interest and provide a strong foundation in creating change for the greater good.” CSC’s ultimate goal, she says, is to “elevate psychosocial wellness and survivorship as the national gold standard in cancer care. We have sites around the country and a front-row

seat to the positive impact this type of support has on patients. If we can prove to an insurance company that psychosocial support equates to reduced medical needs and benefts, we can get more money for cancer patients and, ultimately, better services.” Her hard work toward enhancing the quality of care is paying off: starting in 2014, the American College of Surgeons will make it mandatory for oncologists to include an assessment of their patients’ psychological health needs when planning treatment.

For Jill, working to build and lead CSC and its groundbreaking research institute over the past 25 years has demanded hard work, personal sacrifce, and a great deal of creative thinking. Her thirst for creativity extends to other facets of her life. She collects works of art by accomplished Skidmore graduates and serves the College as a member of the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery’s National Advisory Council. In addition to studying at the prestigious Barnes Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based educational art and horticultural institution, Jill has created and chaired notable family-oriented events at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Her volunteerism doesn’t end there. Jill is a former Journey Campaign volunteer and class fund chair for Skidmore. In 2010 she served her community as part of a group supporting a $90 million building campaign for the Episcopal Academy in Newton Square, Pa., from which her three children, Taylor, Paige, and John, graduated.

She credits her Skidmore experience as an important infuence in shaping the person she is today. “I look back at my years at Skidmore as some of the most fulflling times of my life. It was a vital