March 13, 2008


Below is the latest issue of WellesleyWire, an occasional e-mail digest of noteworthy news and announcements from Wellesley College. For more frequent news and events from the College, visit -- and bookmark -- the News & Public Affairs page at .

Included in this issue are the following items:

PRESIDENT BOTTOMLY NAMES TWO TO SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Last week President H. Kim Bottomly named two new members of Wellesley's senior leadership team. Debra DeMeis, current dean of the college at William Smith College, the women's college component of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, will be Wellesley's new dean of students. In her announcement, Bottomly called DeMeis “a seasoned student affairs professional with significant experience in students’ academic development, academic advising and leadership development.”

Cameran Mason, vice president for institutional advancement at Barnard College and a member of Wellesley's Class of 1984, was selected as vice president for resources and public affairs. “Cameran brings to this new role extensive experience in development, alumnae affairs and communications in higher education," Bottomly said.

More information about DeMeis and Mason is available online.
Debra DeMeis Named Dean of Students
Cameran Mason Named Vice President for Resources and Public Affairs

FROM REFUGEE TO Ph.D.: STUDENT WINS SOROS FELLOWSHIP

Born in war-torn Bosnia, Wellesley senior Sanja Jagesic became a refugee at age 7. Her family fled to Germany, where they lived in one room on a refugee ship for more than five years. When she was 13, Sanja and her family emigrated to the United States, and Sanja, who spoke no English, enrolled in high school in Boston and became a straight A student.

A sociology and German major, Sanja recently has been awarded a prestigious Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, which “provides opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields.” Sanja will put the Soros Fellowship toward earning her Ph.D. in sociology, a process that will take five years of study.

“The Soros Fellowship is one of the most exclusive ones I know about,” said Thomas Cushman, professor of sociology. “They only accept 30 out of 1,000 prescreened applicants each year.”

Click here to learn more about Sanja and her experiences at Wellesley and beyond.

CONNECT WITH WELLESLEY COLLEGE VIA iTUNES

The Wellesley campus is alive with dozens of lectures and cultural events every semester. Now a selection of these offerings is available free of charge via the iTunes Store. Just search for "Wellesley College" in the iTunes Store to find audio presentations from students, alumnae, faculty and guest speakers.

Among the highlights of Wellesley's offerings on iTunes is "How to Complete Your Degree in One Semester (Not!)," a lecture in which Professor of Economics Ann Velenchik imparts humorous advice about exploring classes and majors to first-year students; this year's Wilson Lecture, "Building a New Climate Movement," by environmentalist Bill McKibben; and remarks by the four recipients of the 2008 Alumnae Achievement Award.

Wellesley's audio and video presentations can be downloaded to an iPod or MP3 player or to your computer. To get started, visit the iTunes store and search for "Wellesley College" or go to http://itunes.wellesley.edu.

RETIRED PROFESSOR ESTABLISHES ENDOWMENT FOR WELLESLEY ATHLETICS

Many collegiate athletic programs benefit from the generosity of individual donors, but Professor Emerita Linda K. Vaughan has made a gift that not only supports current students but also generations to come. Vaughan has established an endowment fund to support the Friends of Wellesley College Athletics (FOWCA), which champions varsity athletics and helps promote recreation and fitness college-wide.

"Linda’s legacy of visionary leadership and pursuit of athletic excellence at Wellesley is solidified forever with this commitment to FOWCA,” said Bridget Belgiovine, the PERA chair and director of athletics. “Our student-athletes, faculty and staff will be the true beneficiaries of her thoughtful generosity.” Vaughan was a pioneering force in FOWCA’s founding in 1986 and long-time chair of the Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics.

 

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Mary Ann Hill
Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs
mhill@wellesley.edu
**********

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