Alumni Association Board of Directors
Award Recipients

Retired physician Felicia Axelrod-Porges is an internationally recognized expert on Familial Dysautonomia (FD), a rare genetic neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Founder of NYU’s Dysautonomia Treatment and Evaluation Center, she has revolutionized the care of FD patients and transformed medical outcomes through her pioneering approach to treating this life-threatening illness. 

Felicia traces the roots of her extraordinary achievement to the intersection of “science and serendipity.” But she is quick to add, “As Pasteur reminds us, ‘Fortune favors the prepared mind’ — and Skidmore prepared me.”

The Skidmore biology-chemistry major was serving as chief resident at New York University Medical Center when she was asked to coordinate the care of several FD patients. By the time she had completed her residency, Felicia had committed herself to decoding the mysteries of this heredity disease and treating FD patients. In 1969, she founded the Dysautonomia Treatment and Evaluation Center.

She established an international registry of patients, which allowed for the centralization of care, routine evaluation of programs, and long-term neurophysiologic studies. The facility was recognized as a center of excellence for the FD population and remains unsurpassed in the depth and breadth of resources offered to patients and their families. It is also a critical resource for physicians worldwide. 

A highly complex disease, FD effects virtually every system in the human body. It disturbs cells in the autonomic nervous system, it interferes with digestion, breathing, and the regulation of blood pressure. The sensory nervous system is also impacted, altering the perception of pain, heat, and cold. 

In the 1980s, Felicia created a software program to track research data. She was instrumental in performing many clinical research studies that have led to dramatic improvement in quality of life and longevity for afflicted patients. For example, she discovered that many FD patients had trouble swallowing. At the time, it was believed children were reacting to a milk allergy. Her swallowing studies revealed the real culprit: Milk was being misdirected to their lungs. Felicia devised a bypass system by inserting feeding tubes directly into their stomachs, ensuring healthy fluid and caloric intake. Prior to her intervention, the leading cause of death among FD patients had been lung disease, caused by improper swallowing.

For this devoted healer, the challenges faced by patients and their families extended beyond the clinical. She saw the need to empower parents to care for their children with the disorder: “They needed to know that someone understood what they were going through and could teach them how to do it.”

Felicia integrated clinical science, hands-on education, and compassionate support that elevated quality of life for FD patients and caregivers. Her work has extended their lives: In 1970, children with FD had a 50% chance of surviving to the age of five; today, this population reaches age 40 and beyond and is even having children of its own. “They are like family —and I’ve gone to many of their weddings and other celebrations.”

She has also been on the front lines of genetic research. In 2001, Felicia and other researchers collaborated with Dr. Susan Slaugenhaupt at Harvard Medical School to identify the gene that causes FD. Felicia believes that “genetic therapy is just around the corner.”

Patricia “Trish” Passmore Alley is a social entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, writer, poet, and self-described “spark of divine mischief.” As co-founder and president of Wisdom Connection Inc., she supports education, healthcare, and the arts with emphasis on the cultivation of the whole person and collaborative community development. The foundation has fueled multiple human service initiatives in rural Vermont and plays an important role in environmental preservation.

Trish arrived at Skidmore in 1968 looking to prepare for a career in elementary education. “Thanks to Skidmore’s liberal arts curriculum and course requirements, I ended up with a double major in government and history and a minor in geology,” she says. January term courses took her to the Soviet Union, American Southwest, and Japan. 

Following graduation, Trish moved to Texas for a job in geology. “I was horrified that, as a woman, I was not allowed to do fieldwork. I am still on strike,” she quips. She completed an MBA in organizational development and behavior from Golden Gate University in 1977 and entered the corporate world. Dismayed by a culture in which the concept of “social profit” was nonexistent, Trish launched a consulting practice with the intent to change it. In 1985, she was selected as a Vermont delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business, where she met her husband, Bill.

Tragedy stuck in 1990, when Trish lost her only child before birth. Re-envisioning her purpose once again, she subsequently co-founded three nonprofits and inspired another. The Wisdom Connection provides small grants to other community nonprofits. WholeHeart Inc. connects individuals and organizations, convenes experiential learning opportunities, and facilitates reflective leadership practices “for a more wholehearted world, based on love.” Inspired by Trish’s dedication, two of her friends co-founded the Vermont Women’s Fund.

Wonder & Wisdom Inc., was a beyond-school enrichment program for elementary school children launched in 1998. It served children from homes with addicted, incarcerated, or otherwise struggling parents and children in foster care. Trish found that many were suffering from trauma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or autism spectrum disorder. “At the same time, these kids were full of energy, emotion, imagination, intelligence, play, and wonder.” Trish discovered a common thread among them: “They were all hungry for nourishment of the mind, body, and spirit.”

“My experience as a social change-maker has been my most meaningful work,” she reflects. Trish’s social entrepreneurship, community building, and philanthropic spirit have earned her a place in Founder’s Circle of the Obama Foundation. Although health issues have slowed her a bit, Trish continues to author a monthly blog (gracefulmischief.org) and is working on a book, Defining Grace: Showing Up with The Gift of Divine Mischief.  

“Skidmore widened my world and taught me that creative thought matters. As an introvert who loves interesting people, I play a game with myself: How long does it take to find three things I have in common with a stranger?” For Trish, answers always come from the heart. 

She celebrates her 50th Reunion as the recipient of the Creative Thought Matters Award of Distinction.

When Rashawnda Williams arrived at Skidmore, she had already earned recognition as a “slam poet, activist, and youth writing ambassador” from 826 DC, the nonprofit that helps primary and secondary school students develop creative and expository writing skills. At Skidmore, Rashawnda continued to use her voice to grow as a writer and as a social justice advocate and educator, weaving both into her academic goals. The experience set her on the path to a remarkable career that is also a passion. 

Today, she is an educator focused on increasing representation in the technology ecosystem. As DEI program manager for Google Developer Studio, Rashawnda plans, executes, and manages ongoing operations for the Black+ Developer Tech Career Training program. Previously, she was a Writer’s Room coordinator for 826 Boston. As a fellow of Prospect Hill Academy Charter School, she taught high school history at the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy.

A Skidmore sociology major, Rashawnda became a facilitator in the Intergroup Relations Program. Through IGR, she had the opportunity to teach a college-level course in social justice education, a seminal experience that provided her with tools essential to her career. 

She went on to earn an M.Ed. from Boston University with a focus in teaching and curriculum. She also holds a Certificate in Community Leadership and Social Change from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice at Tufts University.

“Skidmore was the beginning of my consciousness-raising journey,” Rashawnda observes. Her writing and poetry explore the intersection of education and social identities related to class, race, gender, ability, and sexuality. She sees her work as “a reflection of my identity, but also a response to injustice and call to action.”  

As a student leader, Rashawnda’s advocacy lent urgency to include Black and ethnic studies in the curriculum, measures long called for by students of color. She and her peers pushed for the creation of a campus space dedicated to hosting discussions and events related to social justice, and an informal gathering place for students of color, first-generation students, and members of the LGBTQ community.  

In her junior year, she published a letter of solidarity on Black culture website Blavity after student activists of color at the University of Missouri were targeted with verbal and physical threats. Rashawnda also read at her first solo poetry showcase at Troy Kitchen’s “Poetic Vibe” and at a Harvard Book Store book launch event for Amber Tamblyn’s debut novel, Any Man.

After graduation, she was involved with 826 Boston as program manager of Burke High School Writers’ Room and DE&I Council co-chair. In that capacity, she contributed to the 2021 anthology To My Kin, a collection of student writings on the theme of Black joy, initiated by author Thaddeus Miles at the height of the pandemic.

Rashawnda’s credits Skidmore mentors with “laying the foundation” of her professional life. Those mentors have included professors Jennifer Mueller, Amon Emeka, and Bernardos Rios; former IGR director Kristi Ford and Opportunity Program Director Kelli Johnson. 

“Accepting this award at my fifth Skidmore Reunion is an honor and warms my heart,” Rashawnda observes. “But it’s an even greater feeling to see that the initiatives my peers and I advocated for … have been realized.”

Christina Fagan Pardy is the founder of Sh*t that I Knit (STIK), a business that produces handmade knit apparel and accessories. Launched in 2014, its origins stretch back almost a decade earlier, when the Cape Breton, Nova Scotia native learned the craft from her mother. An art history major, Christina interned at the Tang Teaching Museum and sold her hand-knit headbands in Case Center for fun. She was inspired by a class in Consumer Behavior with Mark Staton and connecting with entrepreneur Ken Freirich ’90.  Her submission to the inaugural Freirich Competition, a museum marketplace that rents out artwork, earned “Most Intriguing Idea” honors. By senior year, Christina was blogging about knitting projects, mostly to amuse herself and her friends. This treasured pastime, however, coupled with a creative and analytical mind, ended up having a much bigger reach: Today, Christina is CEO of a thriving national brand that is an official partner of the U.S. Olympic team.

After graduation, Christina worked in tech sales at LevelUp and Criteo.  An account executive by day, she continued knitting at every opportunity. She and her mother knit a collection of hats to sell at Boston’s SoWa Market in fall 2014. STIK’s buzzy brand name drew crowds —the products were a hit. By 2015, Christina had assembled a team of knitters in Boston and left her sales job to focus on STIK full-time.

A successful Kickstarter campaign led to a feature article in Forbes magazine. Realizing her company’s potential, Christina outsourced production to a team of women in Lima, Peru. She marketed her brand on Instagram, posting photos of celebrities wearing her hats and highlighting customers in their beanies. Christina struck gold in 2018, when she challenged her Instagram followers to participate in a “bikini and beanies'' photo contest during a Boston snowstorm. The response made her an “influencer” overnight; STIK was soon generating $1 million in annual revenue. Expanding her team, Christina launched pop-up shops in New York City and Boston, and added mittens, sweaters, baby blankets, and bags to the company’s product line. She grew a robust and loyal community on Instagram by giving followers a “behind the scenes” view of the operation. After landing a contract with the U.S.Winter Olympic team, Christina and her team were featured on NBC’s Today show segment “She Made It.”

STIK products can be found in specialty shops and other national retailers including Nordstrom. Christina is committed to maintaining a sustainable and socially responsible supply chain. Her Peruvian team of 400 female artisans in Peruwork with high quality natural fiber; each worker also earns a viable income to support her family.

“I never could have imagined I could make a meaningful difference in so many women’s lives. There is nothing more gratifying than visiting our team in Peru and hearing their stories. Many of them have achieved financial independence through their work with us. This award confirms that Skidmore shares and supports my values.” 

Few alumni have contributed more to the growth of Skidmore College than Trustee Emerita Sue Thomas ’62. For almost half a century, she has given back to her alma mater with volunteer service of unrivaled depth and breadth. 

Her dedication to Skidmore was evident early on: As a senior, Sue joined the Alumni Association Board of Directors as a student representative. At the time, Skidmore, like many women’s colleges, needed to grow its endowment in order to thrive. 

A sociology major, Sue went on to earn an MSW from Columbia University in 1964 and pursue a career in social work. Later, as a wife and mother of three, she lent her support to community organizations as well as Columbia University, Dartmouth College, the Pingry School, the Newark Boys Chorus Middle School and St Edward’s School.

Sue maintained close ties with classmates and increasingly focused her time, energy, and talent on Skidmore. A longtime class agent and Reunion planner, she signed on as class president and correspondent in the late ’70s. Sue joined the Celebration Campaign Committee and Leadership Gifts Task Force in the ’80s and was elected to the dual role of alumna trustee in 1990. Continuing to expand and deepen her involvement, she stepped up to chair the Friends of the Presidents Committee and took on leadership roles in each of Skidmore’s successive capital campaigns. After a stint on the Nominating Committee, Sue returned to the Board of Trustees as chair from 2002 to 2008 and served as a senior member until 2014. Her deep knowledge of Skidmore and strong leadership skills energized each of the many committees on which she served, including Academic Affairs, Infrastructure, Budget and Finance, Executive, and Trusteeship.  

A perennial member of the Palamountain Honorary Committee, Sue was active on committees that helped develop the Tang Teaching Museum and bring Philip A. Glotzbach to the College as Skidmore’s seventh president. Over the years, Sue and husband Charlie have graciously opened their home to host numerous College and regional alumni events. These stalwart Skidmore ambassadors have also been generous benefactors.

Sue’s tenure as a trustee coincides with one of the most remarkable periods of growth in Skidmore history. Partnering with President Glotzbach, she played a pivotal role in the administration’s expansion and renovation of campus facilities. These have included the Tang Museum, the Zankel Music Center, and — most recently — the Center for Integrated Sciences. At the same time, Skidmore has gained a new level of national recognition for academic excellence, entrepreneurial focus, and commitment to diversity and sustainability.  

In 2002, Sue’s extraordinary contributions were recognized with an Alumni Association Outstanding Service Award. She was honored with the Board of Trustees’ Denis B. Kemball-Cook Award in 2017, for “having given sacrificially of wisdom, time, and talent.” In 2012, Sue received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from her beloved alma mater.

Today, she celebrates her 60th as Reunion chair and a most worthy recipient of the Jacqueline M. Jung ’61 Lifetime Service Award. Sue continues to represent Skidmore as chairwoman of the Conference of Board Chairs of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities.

“What an honor it is to be celebrated with an award that bears the name of my good friend and Skidmore colleague, Jacki Jung. Whatever I have done for Skidmore pales in comparison to how much Skidmore has enriched my life both as a student and as a volunteer. How rewarding it is to have been a part of the growth of this incredible institution.”

Much like Jacki Jung ’61 herself, Nancy Brennan’s Skidmore experience “spans a lifetime.” There is virtually no corner of the College untouched by the hand of this dedicated and prolific volunteer. 

An English major, Nancy studied literature, art, and drama. She spent a semester touring the Navajo Nation and Southwestern pueblos interviewing Native American poets and novelists. Working with Professor of English Robert Boyers, she examined the art of literary magazines, including Skidmore’s own Salmagundi. Nancy’s student years were filled with “exploration, intellectual and creative growth, and lots of great friendships.” It was a time of social and political change; she credits faculty mentors with encouraging her to “dig deeper and better articulate my own thoughts and point of view.”

After completing a master’s degree in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she advanced to executive positions at Fortune 500 companies including The Travelers Corporation and the Hartford Financial Services Group. In midlife, Nancy enrolled at the University of Connecticut School for Nonprofit Leadership, where she was awarded a fellowship. This experience has led to a second career in business consulting for local nonprofits. 

Volunteerism has long been an integral part of Nancy’s life. As a member of the University of Hartford’s visitor board, she helps shape the development of its library. She also serves on the boards of Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford, Connecticut Opera, and First Choice Health Corporation.

A longtime member of the Friends of the Presidents Committee, Nancy chaired its Advancement Council Executive committee. In 2003, she was elected to the dual position of alumna trustee on the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association Board of Directors. As a trustee, Nancy served as vice chair of the Academic Affairs Committee and was an influential voice on numerous others, including the Audit and Budget, Student Life, Advancement Communication, and Finance committees. A consummate leader, she returned to the Alumni Board in 2012 for a six-year term. 

A member of the Skidmore Business Advisory Committee from 2002 to 2009, Nancy’s executive background was an invaluable resource. 

She has been a perennial member of the Palamountain Honorary Committee and continues to use her business acumen and deep appreciation of the arts to benefit the National Skidmore Fund Advisory Committee and the Tang National Advisory Council.

A special highlight is her experience as an MB107 executive volunteer. “The presentations are highly creative and I always come away impressed,” she says. 

Nancy was also a key participant in the dialogue regarding expansion of residential housing that led to the construction of Northwoods Village. Her insight and expertise played a significant role in the development of the Arthur Zankel Music Center.

“Volunteering has enabled me to expand my network of Skidmore friends,” she observes.  “For me, both paths — student and volunteer — have been equally influential and memorable.”

A veteran class agent and multi-term class president, Nancy reprises her role as class Presidents Society chair in celebration of her 50th Reunion.

Deb Sehl Coons arrived on Skidmore’s Union Avenue campus in 1968, armed with an electric typewriter and ready for intellectual challenge. Like her peers nationwide, her campus experience was intertwined with political and societal tumult roiling the country. During the student strike of 1970, she helped operate a ham radio station at Union College that kept strikers nationwide informed. Sharing those formative years created a special bond between Deb and her classmates. 

“At Skidmore, I learned to be both thoughtful and critical, to honor my values and commitments and, as President Palamountain said at our Convocation, ‘to develop the qualities of mind that are hallmarks of an educated person — the lifelong gift of joyful learning.’”

This prolific alumna volunteer has been helping Skidmore fulfill that promise in ways large and small for over three decades. 

After graduating with a double major in theater and music, Deb earned an MBA at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Her liberal arts foundation and critical thinking skills fueled a successful career as a financial analyst and strategist. She continues to provide consulting services to an array of nonprofits.  

As her professional life grew, Deb nurtured her Skidmore connections; she has served the class and the College in an extensive array of volunteer positions.

A longtime class agent and Reunion planner, Deb signed on as class fund chair in the early 1990s. She followed up with a term as class president, concurrently joining the Reunion Giving Program Advisory Committee. Deb deepened her involvement as a member of the Friends of the Presidents Committee and was elected vice president of annual giving on the Alumni Association Board of Directors in 1998. As her term ended, Deb continued as a member of the Alumni Awards Committee and a regional alumni group president. She returned to the board as an alumna trustee and president in 2005. Her expertise and wise council benefited the Advancement and Communication, Infrastructure, Strategic Planning, Student Life, and Trusteeship committees.  

Deb’s comprehensive support of the College includes service as class gift planning chair and member of the Legacy Society Advisor Council and Palamountain Honorary Committee. She has also been an influential voice on the Young Alumni Task Force, Friends of Skidmore Athletics Committee, and alumni board Nominating Committee. Deb has served as an alumni admissions contact since 2017.

Deb and her husband, Phil, remain enthusiastic and thoughtful participants in myriad College events, alumni gatherings, and faculty webinars.

Today she celebrates her 50th Reunion as class historian. Few volunteers can match Deb’s extraordinary capacity to juggle multiple hats — so effectively for so long.

She is sustained by the enduring relationships with classmates and fellow volunteers; she’s especially proud of the Class of 1972. “Like many others, I’ve been able to use my professional skills to advance Skidmore priorities. I am inspired and energized by the Skidmore women and men who do the same.”  

An accomplished senior executive, advisor, and board member, Jon Achenbaum has been leading companies across the branded consumer products and medical device industries for the past 20 years. Currently CEO of leading international knife and edged tool wholesaler Master Cutlery, he has also served as president and CEO of Freeman Beauty, Newhall Laboratories, and Lever Ponds Canada. 

His areas of expertise include marketing and brand management, strategic planning, financial management, and team building and leadership. In short, Jon knows a lot about what makes organizations thrive — and he’s been helping Skidmore to do just that for almost four decades.

A Skidmore economics major, Jon earned an MBA from New York University in 1981. Just three years later, he signed on as a volunteer for Skidmore’s Celebration campaign. Stints as regional group volunteer and class agent quickly followed. In 2004, he was invited to join the Strategic Communication Advisory Board, where his contributions powered a transformational rebranding campaign. His dedication did not go unnoticed.

In 2013, Alumni Association President and Trustee Sibyl Haley ’71 strongly encouraged Jon to step into the role of alumnus trustee, a dual position serving both the College Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association Board of Directors.  

“I remember well that conversation with Sibyl,” he reflects. “I was honored, of course, but also more than a bit surprised. When I asked her, essentially, ‘Why me?’ she cited my many years of consistent service to the College. It was only when I checked my records that I realized I had been supporting Skidmore for over 25 years.” 

And nine years later, he is still at it. Past chair of the Board of Trustee’s Audit and Strategic Planning committees, Jon has been an influential voice on the Advancement and Communications and Academic Affairs committees. Today, he continues serving as vice chair of the board and chair of the Budget, Finance, and Infrastructure Committee. In that position, Jon has worked closely with vice presidents Mike West and Donna Ng to help ensure Skidmore maintains a balanced budget— which it has, for 20 consecutive years. “The committee also played a pivotal role in getting the Center for Integrated Sciences approved, financed, and started,” he notes.

Over Jon’s tenure as trustee, Skidmore experienced one of the most significant periods of growth in its history. This upward trajectory has included a sustainably-expanded physical plant and increased recognition as a national leader in liberal arts education. 

He is especially proud of helping to improve the College’s marketing and branding. “That work was key in establishing the Creative Thought Matters motto and building a first-rate communication and marketing team,” he reflects. “The team’s efforts over the past five years have been outstanding and have truly made a difference in attracting students and donors.”

Serving as co-chair of the presidential search committee that brought Marc Conner to Skidmore, “is a major highlight” of Jon’s volunteer career. “It was challenging but meaningful work, and I am thrilled with the result. Marc is an inspiration.” 

After all these years, he says, “I am even more passionate about Skidmore than ever. I believe in the College’s mission and am excited by what promises to be its very bright future.” 

Marketing strategist Millie Tan has served diverse industries worldwide, including technology, internet and life science services, consumer electronics, and higher education. She is currently CEO of TAN Associates LLC, a consultancy that delivers innovative, analytics-driven and expertly executed strategy. Millie previously served as chief marketing officer and senior vice president for data science healthcare firm IQVIA (formerly Quintiles). She headed up European business at Monster Worldwide (monster.com) and was vice president of worldwide marketing at Polaroid Corporation.

This accomplished executive scarcely could have imagined the path she would take when she arrived at Skidmore in 1973. A New York City native, Millie was the first in her family to attend college. Her immigrant parents, a ship’s cook and a garment factory seamstress, were illiterate in Chinese and English. They were very proud when their daughter enrolled at Skidmore and supported her goal of becoming a teacher.  

But that plan changed as Millie was exposed to a new world of expansive ideas and possibilities. A history major, she became involved in student life early on. A house counselor in her sophomore year, she became the first junior to serve as a head resident. Millie spent her senior year as head resident of Jonsson Tower. The relationships she developed with other students and residence life staffers were a fundamental part of her Skidmore experience. Her fellow staffers, she recalls, “became my squad.”

Millie went on to earn a master’s degree from Teachers College at Columbia University and an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth College.

As her professional life flourished, she came to more fully appreciate the academic and personal growth she experienced at Skidmore. Millie has been giving back to her alma mater in myriad ways ever since. “Skidmore transformed my life,” she reflects. “I found a strong sense of family and community here and a place that allowed me to flourish and to be my best self. This foundation is one I’ve tried to replicate throughout my career and in various leadership roles; I’ve always valued individual diversity within teams and encouraged innovation and creativity.”

An alumna trustee from 2018 to 2022, Millie was an influential voice on the Student Life and Communications committees. Likewise, she lent her expertise and experience to the Alumni Association Board of Directors, facilitating communication between the bodies. Millie is passionate about Skidmore remaining accessible to first generation students. In addition to bolstering financial aid, she has worked diligently to feature student life more prominently in Skidmore’s admissions and media materials. A longtime class agent and career advisor, Millie served a two-year term on the President’s Advisory Council. She’s teamed up with Jed Lavitt ’77 to co-chair several class reunions, including the 45th. Today, Millie also celebrates that milestone as class co-president.

“I’m honored to receive this award. Skidmore opened up the world to me. My service and support are the least I can do to pay back an institution that has given me so much. I feel strongly that the door remains open so that future students can discover the special opportunity awaiting them at Skidmore.”

Jennifer Aborn Hart is a consummate community builder. A retired music educator, having taught Pre-K - College, she capped a 37-year career at Vermont’s Rutland City Public Schools as a primary music educator. Fortunately for her alma mater, Jennifer also spent the past 19 years focusing her time, talent, and energy on fostering connections among Skidmore alumni.    

The music-psychology major “lived” in Filene Music Building, where she was guided by exceptional faculty including Isabelle Williams, George Green, Phil Cavanaugh, Ruth Lakeway, and Ed Hausman.  “They were such warm, generous and intelligent people,” she recalls. One of just three music majors in the class of ’82, Jennifer developed close relationships with these classmates and her instructors. Psychology classes echoed that intimate quality and were taught by equally dynamic faculty. “Each one of them made us feel special.”

As a sophomore, Jennifer partnered with fellow chorus member Bonnie Gray Lindquist ’81 to found the a cappella group the Accents, a defining moment in her undergraduate career that would influence Jennifer’s life for decades to come. 

She went on to earn a master’s in education and launched a fulfilling career teaching music.  All along the way, she continued to expand and deepen Skidmore ties.

A longtime class agent and Reunion planner, Jennifer has served as class fund chair since 2003. When daughter Samantha Hart ’16 enrolled at Skidmore, Jennifer joined Parents Council. After completing her second term on the Alumni Nominating Committee in 2021, Jennifer was invited to serve on the Alumni Association Board of Directors as chair of reunions. In addition to this role, she celebrates her 40th Reunion as class fund chair and Reunion chair.

Jennifer has enjoyed connecting with alumni at Presidents Society receptions, the Fox Adler lecture, Homecoming Weekend, and a host of regional alumni events and faculty webinars. Most recently, she participated in a zoom Student Government Association reunion, and another celebrating her beloved Accents, held on campus.  Whatever the gathering, you’ll find Jennifer demonstrating the benefits of community engagement — and giving back.

Roommates and suitemates who became lifelong friends, along with fellow volunteers, are the core of her Skidmore network.  “Working closely for decades with Angie Foss ’82 as class fund co-chairs and with Chuck Kaufman ’82 and Angie as reunion co-chairs, along with the rest of our planning committee, has been wonderful.  When I was invited to join the Nominating Committee and subsequently the Alumni Board, I acquired another cadre of Skidmore friends, not to mention the dedicated staff in the Advancement and Alumni Relations offices. Along with my family, this exceptional community has been the “George Bailey” of my life. I wouldn’t be who I am without them.”

Jennifer reflects, “Whether it’s with time or treasure, giving back to Skidmore is what I love to do. I never expected a reward. That being said, I am humbled and honored that I was chosen to receive this award. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.“

David Castle has always had a keen eye for a good investment. He made his first substantive gift to Skidmore as a senior, motivated by his belief that a more balanced ratio of male and female students would enhance the institution. He was right on that score.

The Skidmore government major earned a Juris Doctor from the Cornell Law School and later embarked on a career in finance. He currently holds various leadership roles in his family’s investment companies, including serving as president of Branford Castle Inc. David is also a prolific Skidmore volunteer.

For over two decades, he has lent his time, talent, and professional expertise to help steer Skidmore through some of its most critical decisions. A member of the President’s Advisory Council (formerly Skidmore’s Council of 100) since its inception, he is among a select group of high-level alumni professionals who advise the president on core strategic issues. 

He deepened his involvement as a member of the Board of Trustees from 2010 to 2014, when he served as vice chair of the Audit Committee and a key member of the Advancement and Communications, Budget and Finance, Strategic Planning, and Student Life committees. 

A stalwart and energetic advocate for Skidmore’s alumni community, David served a concurrent term on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. As alumnus trustee, he was an essential voice for the alumni community and enhanced communication and collaboration between these two vital advisory bodies. 

His deep, comprehensive understanding of Skidmore helped shape its extraordinary growth over the last 20 years. During this period, the College experienced a dramatic increase in applications, growing national recognition, and the sustainable expansion of its campus. Most notable is the Center for Integrated Sciences, the largest capital project in Skidmore history. “It was no small task to keep the project on track during the introduction of a new president and a global pandemic,” he adds.

Today, David continues his service on the President’s Advisory Council and enjoys chatting with students interested in finance careers.

David sees his generous support of Skidmore as “an investment” in its future, one that he hopes will continue strengthening the College’s science programs and the diversity of its student body.  

He especially enjoys speaking with students and pointing out how the path from Skidmore can lead to successful careers in finance. "It has also been fulfilling to share my perspective — as an alum and a business person — as a member of the Alumni Association Board and Board of Trustees.” 

A mainstay participant at alumni social and professional events around the country, David has contributed to innumerable Presidents Society gatherings, PAC webinars, and campaign conference calls. He has remained especially close to his Scribner Village apartment mates. “The breadth of our experiences together as young adults continues to be important to me,” he reflects.

Skidmore is not the only beneficiary of his generosity. A past board member and officer of the Caedmon School in New York City, David is actively involved in fundraising for Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Stephanie Friedman is a leader with the kind of collaborative spirit that helps teams deliver their best work. As vice president and account manager at Murphy Research, she oversees account acquisition, management, growth, and team development. Over her 25-year career, Stephanie has worked with domestic and international clients across a wide range of research categories, including consumer products, entertainment, technology, travel and tourism, and financial services. Former assistant general manager at Lieberman Research Worldwide, she has held a variety of leadership roles in her field.

This dedicated alumna has also been using her expertise and collaborative mindset on behalf of Skidmore for decades.  

“Skidmore gave me a terrific liberal arts education, which I highly value and leverage every day in my work and my life. I’ve also acquired an incredible community that never stops growing. Some of the most important people in my life continue to be in my Skidmore circle, particularly my Class of 1992 family. And that circle expands with each opportunity to connect with students, faculty, staff, and fellow alumni.”

After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Stephanie earned an MBA from Babson College. But she never left her Skidmore circle, continuing to broaden it as she built a career. The longtime class agent has been a perennial Reunion planner. An enthusiastic regional volunteer, she helped expand opportunities for West Coast alumni to gather for social and professional events. 

Stephanie served two consecutive terms on the Alumni Nominating Committee before stepping into a six-year tenure on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

As the board’s VP of programming, she spearheaded efforts to update and refine the board’s position descriptions, processes, and mission statement. Stephanie was invariably among the first to volunteer for subcommittee work that required more of her time. As her term concluded, a grateful board appointed her member-at-large for a year, allowing Stephanie to complete a key project she was finalizing. 

A gracious presence at Presidents Society gatherings and a host of alumni and College events, Stephanie continues to inspire alumni to explore the many ways they can renew a mutually beneficial relationship with their alma mater.

“As I continue serving the College, I’ve deepened my appreciation of Skidmore and the education it gave me. My service is a continuously evolving process, because it needs to remain relevant to today’s students. I am in awe of them and hope more alumni choose to explore this remarkably rewarding experience.”

A stalwart participant in Career Jam, she has advised countless students on navigating the path to professional success. Stephanie has been a guest lecturer in the Department of Management and Business, where she has witnessed firsthand the quality of students and faculty. “I also observed the development of the Center for Integrated Sciences, Skidmore’s commitment to cutting-edge sustainable practices, and its great strides in diversity and inclusion.”

“I am humbled and honored to receive this award. I’m proud of what Skidmore has accomplished and grateful to be able to represent it.”

Matt Lueckheide faced a momentous decision last spring. A doctoral candidate in Brown University’s chemistry program, he was offered the opportunity of his dreams: a position in the lab of a distinguished research scientist that would set his graduate studies on an ideal career track. There was one caveat: The June start date coincided with Matt’s commitment to serve as lead student assistant for Reunion 2017. A veteran event staffer, Matt understood the logistical complexity involved in meeting the needs of a thousand campus guests with a corps of 20 student helpers. How he resolved this dilemma tells you everything you need to know about his relationship to his alma mater. 

“I literally jumped on a bus from Albany to Providence that Sunday and made it to the interview at Brown in the nick of time — still wearing my Skidmore T-shirt. There wasn’t time to change clothes,” he recalls with a laugh.

The Long Island native grew up in a modest single-parent household and was keen to pursue a career in science. Skidmore’s offer of a generous financial aid package “was life-changing.” Without it, he observes, “enrolling would have been a pipe dream.” Elated, Matt jumped in with both feet, working closely with Chemistry Department faculty and spending long hours at the library and in the lab. 

Professor of Chemistry Juan Navea became Matt’s initial research mentor and included him as a co-presenter at several conferences. “He still is my guiding light,” Matt reflects. Professor “Ray Giguere prepared me for the chemical synthesis work so essential to my research focus at Brown. I owe my teaching style to (Associate Professor and Chair of the Chemistry Department) Steve Frey, who demonstrated the value of humor in helping students access challenging material.” These faculty mentors, now trusted friends, continue to guide and support him.  At Skidmore, Matt also took up guitar and improv comedy. Those pursuits, he observes, have proven to be “great medicine for anxiety and stress.”  

A firm believer in paying it forward, Matt teamed up with Abude Al-Asaad ’17 to co-chair their class Senior Gift campaign. Matt helped deliver record-breaking classmate participation and an offer to match the total raised from Carol Strickland ’72. His involvement in campus life started early on. As a first-year student, Professor of Chemistry Kim Frederick arranged for Matt to share student perspectives with the chief architect of the proposed Center for Integrated Sciences and was the sole chemistry major at a 2016 campus forum on the project. His insightful questions drew the attention of College leadership, including then President Philip Glotzbach. Matt was invited to speak at a number of scholarship dinners and presidential events.

On track to complete his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry this spring, he admits, “I’m actually more excited about Reunion than finishing my doctorate.” He continues to stay engaged with Skidmore as class fund chair, admissions contact, and career advisor; he rarely misses an alumni gathering.

“Obviously, I love Skidmore with all my heart and soul.” One look at Matt’s wardrobe and apartment décor provides abundant evidence; he owns an impressive collection of Skidmore-branded T-shirts, banners, clocks, and fridge magnets. “But I never expected to be recognized for it. Receiving this award motivates me to work harder to get my class back for Reunion and to help them stay connected to Skidmore.”