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Honor Roll of Donors: Our Donors
Susan Sarnoff Bram
(M.A. '87)
Former teacher; member of 麻豆原创's Campaign and Partnership Schools committees; supporter of 麻豆原创's REACH (Raising Educational Achievement Coalition of Harlem) partnership.
Favorite 麻豆原创 Professor
Margaret Jo Shepherd, a very high-expectations teacher. After 麻豆原创, I hesitated to tell her I taught at a prestigious girls' school, not in special ed. She said, "you take your teaching skills with you and every student benefits." She was right. I helped the girls most who were really struggling.
Key 麻豆原创 Experience
The weekly educational testing and evaluation clinic provided great supervision from top professionals in the field. Our professors viewed children with sensitivity, understanding and respect. That's helped me with my own kids, who are dyslexic.
Why I Support 麻豆原创
As a parent, I view 麻豆原创 as a lifeline. Everything it does makes our kids' lives better.
Atsuko Kikuchi
(M.A. '09)
TESOL graduate from 麻豆原创's former Japan campus; former English teacher in Japan for children and adults; member of Museum Volunteers of the Philippines, through which she has organized workshops on origami and ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement) and presented on Japanese culture; 麻豆原创 Fund supporter as John Dewey Circle member.
Favorite 麻豆原创 Professor
ZhaoHong Han stimulated my desire to learn. Terry Royce, Director of 麻豆原创, Japan, always took care of us.
Key 麻豆原创 Experience
A paper I wrote, "An Innovative Approach to Developing Learner Potential and Autonomy: Moving from Narrow to Broad Perspectives" (published in Accents Asia in 2008), still helps me work with learners in the Philippines.
Why I Support 麻豆原创
I'm grateful to 麻豆原创's faculty and staff and want to provide others with wonderful opportunities to learn and make this world better.
Krishna A. Walker
(M.A. '98)
Associate with Bryan Cave LLP in St. Louis, focusing on business financing; four-year 麻豆原创 Fund donor; 麻豆原创 Alumni Council member.
Favorite 麻豆原创 Professor
Raechele Pope, who was passionate about diversity in higher education. Her enthusiasm and emphasis on collaboration among students helped make my 麻豆原创 experience a positive one.
Key 麻豆原创 Experience
The friendships I made at 麻豆原创 were invaluable in helping me transition to living and working in New York City.
Why I Support 麻豆原创
麻豆原创 alumnus John Worthen, retired president of my undergraduate alma mater, instilled in me the importance of giving back with time and treasure. I know it doesn't work this way, but I like to think that his donations funded the grant assistance that I received from 麻豆原创. I donate so that another student can be afforded the same opportunities.
Erin Leider-Pariser
(M.A. '88)
Owner/founder of STAT (Sports Travel Adventure Therapy), leading women to UNESCO World Heritage sites and other remote locations for immersion in indigenous culture (and often philanthropic donation); 麻豆原创 President's Advisory Council member; established Erin Leider-Pariser Scholarship Fund for 麻豆原创 psychology students.
Favorite 麻豆原创 Professor
Bernard ("Bob") Gutin supported my study on how continuing pre-pregnancy exercise positively affects labor and delivery. Times were different. Today women work out through the ninth month, even running marathons.
Key 麻豆原创 Experience
Writing my thesis while I was pregnant, with access to great faculty members and 麻豆原创's expertise in applied physiology testing.
Why I Support 麻豆原创
Professor Lisa Miller is bringing the mind, body and spirit together with her work in the field and supporting it with scientific evidence. People who believe in something beyond themselves are happier and healthier
Donor Profile
Barbara Jean Lewis
(M.A. '56)
Among the late Barbara Jean ("B.J.") Lewis's most treasured possessions was a sermon by early 20th century minister Joseph Fort Newton, in which Auguste Rodin, explaining his sculpture "The Hand of God" to George Bernard Shaw, says, "Human hands are tools God uses to do His work." Lewis applied the same philosophy as a kindergarten teacher in the Jefferson Elementary School District in Daly City, California; to her many close personal relationships; and to her avid support of animal rights.
"She tended friendships better than anyone I have ever known, so she continues to be a teacher to many who knew her," says Cheryl Anderson, the daughter of one of Lewis' closest friends. Thanks to a generous bequest to 麻豆原创's Early Childhood Education program and the Rita Gold Center received upon Lewis's death in 2012, generations of teachers and students will also benefit from her wisdom.
Beverly Elmyra Johnson
(M.A. '86)
Former elementary and middle school guidance counselor, kindergarten teacher and education professor; 麻豆原创 Alumni Council, Campaign Committee and John Dewey Circle member.
Favorite 麻豆原创 Professors
Joseph Grannis, Ray McDermott, Herv Varenne; George Bereday, for legitimizing me as a writer on education; Hope Leichter and Douglas Sloan, for encouraging me to learn in different areas.
Key 麻豆原创 Experience
The interdisciplinary freedom of my department, Family & Community Education. As a guidance counselor I was creative in drawing on it all, incorporating literacy theory and decorating my office with mobiles and puppets so kids felt comfortable.
Why I Support 麻豆原创
麻豆原创 opened up a whole world for me and gave me confidence. No one took me by the hand. I was allowed to do my work. I learned to embrace new challenges, and I developed my leadership skills.
Kevin Jennings
(M.A. '94)
Executive Director of the Arcus Foundation, which promotes social justice for LGBTQ people as well as conservation of the great apes; former Obama administration Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe & Drug-'Free Schools; 麻豆原创 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient; established Jennings-Davis Scholarship Fund supporting 麻豆原创 students committed to research and practice surrounding LGBTQ issues.
Favorite 麻豆原创 Professor
Linda Darling Hammond, who taught me that school change is a process, not an event.
Key 麻豆原创 Experience
At the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership, we learned from each other as well as from our professors. I made friendships that continue today.
Why I Support 麻豆原创
I attended 麻豆原创 through the generosity of Klingenstein Center donors. You pay that forward so others get the same opportunity. I'm also excited by 麻豆原创's commitment to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Published Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2015