Class of 1977

Study Break for the Class of 2027 at MHC
2026-03-11 16:00 - 19:00 (Asia/Dubai) | Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, United States
Wednesday, March 11 | 4:00–7:00 pm
Study Break for the Class of 2027
Blanchard, Room 227
We’ll host a relaxed drop-in gathering where students can:

Make a quick craft
Enjoy homemade cookies (we’d love it if you’d like to bake and bring some!)
Chat informally with us and one another

It’s a meaningful, low-key way to hear what students are experiencing on campus as spring break
approaches. We’d love to have you join us.
Bonus: The 53rd Annual Flower Show will be taking place while we’re there — a beautiful sign
of early spring!
A block of rooms is reserved at Willits-Hallowell for Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Planning to attend the Study Break?
Please RSVP here:
https://forms.gle/EtAuWMuUtF5Mb84d9
If you’re staying overnight, or nearby, feel free to gather at Willits-Hallowell to join the
discussion together.
A special “Thank you” to Susan Colgan and Avice Meehan, our Connections Class
Committee, who have put together these wonderful plans to bring us together with the Class of
2027.

Book Club: My Friends by Fredrik Backman March 10 @ & pm
2026-03-10 19:00 - 20:30 (Asia/Dubai)
Liz Gershon is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Class of 1977 Book Club Discussion
Time: Mar 10, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 847 8960 3610
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March4MHC Challenge: March 5–6
2026-03-05 - 2026-03-06
You can make your gift or pledge in any of the following ways:

The March4MHC GiveCampus page
MHC Gift Form
PayPal
Venmo @mountholyokefund1837 (be sure to include your name, class year and email address.)
Make your pledge online through the Mount Holyoke online pledge form.
Call the Development Office at 800-642-4483

50th Reunion Planning Forum (Everyone Invited)
2026-02-24 20:00 - 21:30 (Asia/Dubai)
Our Reunion chairs would like to offer an early opportunity to connect live as a class. To make it
easier for classmates across time zones and schedules, we will offer the same session at
two different times. Please join whichever works best for you. These will be
opportunities to see familiar faces, share thoughts and ideas, ask questions about reunion
planning or committee work, and simply reconnect. Link
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mtholyoke.zoom.us/j/96466294926?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 964 6629 4926
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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50th Reunion Planning Forum (Everyone Invited)
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:30 (Asia/Dubai)
Our Reunion chairs would like to offer an early opportunity to connect live as a class. To make it
easier for classmates across time zones and schedules, we will offer the same session at
two different times. Please join whichever works best for you. These will be
opportunities to see familiar faces, share thoughts and ideas, ask questions about reunion
planning or committee work, and simply reconnect.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mtholyoke.zoom.us/j/96466294926?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 964 6629 4926
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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MHC Forward: Updates From Leadership
2026-01-27 12:00 - 13:00 (Asia/Dubai)
Join us for updates from MHC leadership on 1/27!
Join President Danielle R. Holley for a special virtual event for alums. Hear the latest from campus, including bold strides driving MHC Forward. Learn how caring for our beloved campus will enhance academic excellence and the student experience and how you can get involved.
🗓 Date: Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026
⏰ Time: Noon EST
💻 Where: Virtual via Zoom
🔗 Register Now: https://events.mtholyoke.edu/event/mhc-forward-updates-from-leadership-4307

Don’t miss this opportunity to reconnect with your alma mater and hear directly from President Holley. We can’t wait to see you there!

Class of 1977 Book Club - "Becoming Madam Secretary"
2025-06-18 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Nancy Mathiasen and I will be leading the discussion of the book: Becoming Madame Secretary by Stephanie Dray. I think we all know a little about Frances Perkins, but I know we will learn a lot as we read this historical fiction novel.
Although this will be the book we discuss, there are many other books about Secretary Perkins, including “Dear Miss Perkins: A Story of Frances Perkins’ Efforts to Aid Refugees from Nazi Germany” by Rebecca Brenner Graham (MHC ’15), “The Woman Behind the New Deal” by Kristen Downey, “The Roosevelt I Knew” by Frances Perkins and Adam Cohen, and “Madame Secretary Frances Perkins” by George W. Martin. Feel free to read any (or all) of these books too, to bring more depth to our discussion (am I giving you an assignment as if we are back at College???).
The first few sentences of the summary on Amazon of this last book by George W. Martin are “Frances Perkins (1880-1965) attended Mount Holyoke College, majoring in physics. In her final semester, she visited mills along the Connecticut River to see working conditions as part of a class in American economic history. She was horrified.” So we know “Becoming Madame Secretary” is going to be a great story about a MHC alum.
And on this past March 25th, Heather Cox Richardson (Heather Cox Richardson from Letters from an American <heathercoxrichardson@substack.com>) wrote about Frances Perkins, commemorating 114 years since the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which Frances Perkins had witnessed. This was a turning point in her activism towards improving labor conditions, ultimately leading to her appointment by FDR as the Secretary of Labor. “Frances Perkins, and all those who worked with her, transformed the horror of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire into the heart of our nation’s basic social safety net. “There is always a large horizon…. There is much to be done,” Perkins said. “It is up to you to contribute some small part to a program of human betterment for all time.”

Back to Campus Mini Reunion
2025-04-08 - 2025-04-10

Mini Reunion in NYC
2025-03-25 | Morgan Library and Museum, 225 Madison Ave, New Yor City, NY, United States
We have a fun idea that we hope you’ll want to join in for a future event in NYC on March 25th, 2025!
To follow up from a 1977 mini-reunion held in 2022, we believe this exhibition will be interesting and amazing: Belle da Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, who helped him build his impressive collection of rare books, manuscripts and letters will be honored at a major exhibition at the J.P. Morgan Library in NYC where they worked closely together. Here’s the link to the exhibit: https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/belle-da-costa-greene
After Greene (1879-1950) was hired by Morgan in 1905, she emerged as one of the highest-paid women in America and commanded respect in a field dominated by men. She spent millions of dollars on Morgan’s behalf to acquire outstanding medieval manuscripts, rare printed books and works of art. All told, she headed the Morgan Library for 43 years and was single-handedly responsible for turning it into one of the most important collections of rare books and manuscripts in the United States. Not only had she organized and cataloged the collection, she had significantly expanded its holdings and displayed its treasures in curated exhibitions.
While she was famous and well known for her librarianship in her lifetime, few people also knew that she had been born to a prominent Black family, and by her early 20s was passing as a white woman in New York City, a very dangerous way to live.
We invite you to meet us on Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 at the Morgan Library and Museum in NYC, located at 225 Madison Ave. at 36th Street to visit the Library and this major exhibition. We will be back in touch with timing as soon as we arrange the specifics around the tour.
Additionally, we’d like to meet for lunch nearby at one of the many terrific restaurants.
Please let Merry know you are interested, use this link to a contact form. Stay tuned for details!
Cheers, Nancy Mathiasen and Merry Galassi Hampton

A Science-Based Framework for Happiness Zoom Meeting
2025-02-24 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
February 24th at 5:00 PM EST for a discussion on Happiness and How to Achieve It In Our Busy Lives! The Zoom link is at the end of this eblast.
Based on a suggestion from our classmate Jacquie Prue, I contacted Astrid Baumgardner, MHC Class of 1973, who is an accomplished lawyer, career coach, and certified happiness facilitator, among other things. She teaches creativity and career entrepreneurship at Yale University’s School of Music and she recently gave a TEDx talk on Cracking the Code on Creativity: The Secret to Full-Blast Living.
I had a great conversation with Astrid and it is very exciting that she has offered to lead a discussion for us on a science-based, fully researched approach to achieving Happiness which will also include action steps for us to apply after our meeting.
I asked Astrid to introduce the Happiness Framework to us, and also tell us a little about herself. Here is what she sent:
SPIRE and Life Balance: The Science-Based Framework for Greater Happiness and Fulfillment
As busy, accomplished MHC alumnae, many of you undoubtedly are involved in a lot of activities, whether professional or volunteer, along with nurturing relationships, staying healthy in your bodies and your minds, keeping your intellects alive and strong, managing a household and your finances, having some fun activities, and a host of other things! How can you stay on top of all your commitments and still feel in balance?
Here’s what can help: the science-based SPIRE model of happiness! I invite you to join me on February 24, 2025 from 5-6:30 PM EST for a 90-minute interactive session on SPIRE and Life Balance.
SPIRE is a holistic model of well-being comprised of 5 elements:
S: spiritual well-being
P: physical well-being
I: intellectual well-being
R: relational well-being
E: emotional well-being
In our session on February 24, we will delve into the following:

First, we will learn one key principle underlying each of the five SPIRE elements;
We will then explore and experience practices to incorporate these principles into your lives; and
We will learn how implement SPIRE practices into your life by to setting small, manageable action steps and experience greater happiness and balance.

The session is highly interactive and includes spot-coaching, large and small group exercises and a Q&A session where I can answer your questions and get you started on a life of greater fulfillment!
Looking forward to seeing you on February 24!
About Astrid Baumgardner
I am passionate about helping people to live happier, more fulling and successful lives and I love what I do! I am a lawyer, career coach, certified happiness facilitator, speaker and author of the book, Creative Success Now. I teach creativity and career entrepreneurship at Yale University’s School of Music and I recently gave a TEDx talk on Cracking the Code on Creativity: The Secret to Full-Blast Living. I am also a certified happiness facilitator from the Happiness Studies Academy, bringing the research-based SPIRE framework of happiness and well-being to arts organizations and their leaders
I graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke College in 1973 as a Romance Language major and from Rutgers Newark Law School in 1976 where I was on the law review. After nearly 25 years of practicing law in New York City, I transitioned to roles in non-profit executive leadership and then trained to be a life coach. I launched my coaching company, Astrid Baumgardner Coaching+Training, in 2009 and joined the faculty of the Yale School of Music in 2011.
As a coach, I help arts leaders and professional musicians step into authentic leadership, achieve career success, and live happier, more fulfilling lives. I also coach and guest lecture on creative success and happiness at music conservatories and summer music festivals in the US. In addition, I conduct leadership training and SPIRE workshops for arts leaders.
A lifelong amateur pianist and champion of new music, I serve on three US non-profit arts boards and am a previous member of the Advisory Board of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum.
I am a serious amateur classical pianist and I live in New York City with my husband where we enjoy the rich cultural life that our city offers.
For more information, please visit https://www.astridbaumgardner.com.

MHC’s Strategy & Campus Updates
2025-01-28 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Please join us in the new year for a special virtual event for the alum community. President Danielle R. Holley will share the latest updates from campus and show how Mount Holyoke is leading boldly with the MHC Forward strategic plan.
Learn firsthand about the exciting vision that is emerging for the future of our campus and how alums can get involved
We hope you will attend and encourage alums in your circles to join you. Register now to secure your spot and submit your questions.

Book Club Discussion January 21th 8pm ET, The Lion Women Tehran
2025-01-21 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Book Club Discussion scheduled for Tuesday, January 21st at 8pm ET, The Lion Women of Tehran, by Marjan Kamali. And Lise Funkhouser Paul will be joining me in leading the discussion. I am suggesting this book at the recommendation of one of my (non MHC) friends (yes I do have a couple!!!), who said it was an amazing story, really well written and a great book for a book club discussion. And here is one of the many reviews on Amazon “This novel highlights two childhood friends in Iran of different demographics and political views. Character development is extraordinary as they narrate a heartwarming story of friendship, heartbreak, abuse and forgiveness. The historical timeframe spans 3 decades beginning in the 1960’s where women’s rights were non-existent. This is one of the best novels I have read this year and highly recommended as a book club option.”
Topic: Class of 1977 Book Club Discussion
Time: Jan 21, 2025 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85148083060?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 851 4808 3060
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Liz Gershon is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Class of 1977 Book Club Discussion
Time: Jan 7, 2025 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 842 2845 8921
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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Book Discussion September 12th 8 pm: ALL WE EVER WANTED, by Emily Griffin
2024-09-12 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Sue York, recently read a great book, ALL WE EVER WANTED, by Emily Griffin, and has agreed to lead our next Class Book Club discussion on Thursday, September 12th, at 8 pm Eastern on Zoom.
Topic: Class of 1977 Book Club Discussion
Time: Sep 12, 2024 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 851 8707 2428
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Share Your News for Next Quarterly
2024-09-09 - 2024-10-14
