Mission Statement
The Bard College Alumni/ae Association exists to strengthen the Bard community by informing alumni/ae about the ongoing life of the College and its alumni/ae, promoting interactions between all alumni/ae, and encouraging lifelong connection, support, and loyalty to the College.
As an extension of the Bard College Alumni/ae Association, the Board of Governors supports the mission statement of Bard College and is committed to understanding and celebrating the rich spectrum of experiences that comprise our community.
The Bard College Alumni/ae Association, its Board of Governors, and its committees are committed to maintaining shared values of antiracism, justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and access in all aspects of programming and interactions with Bard College community members, including but not limited to students, faculty, administration, fellow alumni/ae, and guests.
Executive Committee
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Mollie Meikle ’03PresidentMollie Meikle ’03
Mollie Meikle ’03 lives in Brooklyn, NY, where she works for the City of New York. Mollie is the Director of the Mayor's Office of Appointments for New York City. Mollie was a literature major and her senior project was a collection of short stories. A Bard booster for life, she has attended almost every Alumni/ae Reunion Weekend and Holiday Party since graduating. Mollie first joined the Board of Governors in 2008, and as a volunteer for the college has spearheaded fundraising, organized events, and has lead her Reunion Committee for the 5th, 10th, 15th, and now 20th reunion.
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Gerald Pambo-Awich ’08Vice PresidentGerald Pambo-Awich ’08
Gerry Pambo-Awich ’08 lives in New York where he is an Investment Officer at the Ford Foundation, supporting execution and management of the foundation's impact investment portfolio. Gerry was a computer science major at Bard and for his senior project he built an artificial intelligence powered investing program. Since graduation, Gerry has stayed connected to Bard through events such as the Bard Music Festival, the Bardians in Finance Affinity Group, and Alumni/ae Reunion Weekend. Gerry is also one of the lucky Bardians to have met their future spouse at Bard and in 2015 they were married on campus—the same year he joined the Board of Governors.
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Kristin Waters ’73SecretaryKristin Waters ’73
Kristin Waters is professor emerita at Worcester State University and resident scholar at the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis University. She is author of Women and Men Political Theorists: Enlightened Conversations and coeditor of Black Women’s Intellectual Traditions: Speaking Their Minds, which received the Letitia Woods Brown Award from the Association of Black Women Historians.
Work of the Board of Governors
The work of the Bard College Alumni/ae Association relies on the active participation of alumni/ae committees on the Board of Governors. Board Members attend quarterly meetings that include updates from College leadership and the student body. Board of Governors meetings are held in-person and virtually in March, May, October, and December every year and are open to all alumni/ae. Committee meetings take place separately throughout the year. Board Members act as Bard ambassadors, and encourage continued support and communication within the Bard community.
Committees
All members of the Board of Governors serve on at least one committee. Committee work takes place outside of the regularly scheduled Board of Governors meetings; members report on committee work at board meetings. Depending on their interest, volunteers may form new committees, working groups, or affinity groups. Please note: You do not have to be a member of the Board of Governors to work on a committee. All alumni/ae are welcome. Please email [email protected] to get involved.
Career Connections
The Career Connections Committee works in conjunction with the Alumni/ae Office, the Alumni/ae Affinity Group program and the Career Development Office (CDO) to offer networking opportunities, mentorship and guidance for current students, recent graduates and alumni/ae.
Co-Chairs: Boriana Handjiyska ’02, Anna Neverova ’07
Members: Tyrone Santana Copeland '01, Nicolai Eddy ’14, Nolan English ‘13, Andrew Fowler ’95, Daniel Severson '10, Thoko Soko '20, Ato Williams ’12
Career Connections Activities
- Works closely with Affinity Group leadership and the Alumni/ae Office to organize gatherings for alumni/ae by discipline/areas of interest
- Sustains close connection to the Career Development Office, offering advice and mentorship to recent graduates, soliciting job and internship opportunities from fellow alumni/ae and participating in BardWorks
- Works to keep LinkedIn conversations going for Bardians seeking work or who have professional opportunities to share
- Stays abreast of Bardian professional news and reaches out to alumni/ae who may have relevant professional experience to share
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee works in conjunction with the Alumni/ae Office to utilize all methods of communications to ensure the alumni/ae body is receiving news of the college, news of the Board of Governors and alumni/ae news in a way that highlights a diversity of perspectives and is accessible to all.
Chair: TBA
Members: Matt Cameron ’04, Sarah Elia ’06, Maud Kersnowski Sachs ’86, Levi Shaw-Faber ’15, Ryan Mesina ’06, Nathan Xu ’17
Communications Activities
- Works with Alumni/ae Affairs offering advice and feedback on communications from the college to alumni/ae
- Surveys other colleges and non-profit websites and communications for potential new strategies and ideas
- Monitors and contributes to Alumni/ae Office social media channels and makes suggestions
- Reviews the voices and subject matter coming from college to ensure a diversity of content
- Suggests ideas for inclusion in the Triangle, the Bardian, and other publications (email and print)
- Assists Alumni/ae Affairs maintaining and improving the Board of Governors web and social media presence
Development Committee
The Development Committee works in support of the College’s overall strategic goal to promote a culture of philanthropy that inspires alumni/ae to donate their time, talents, and financial resources to ensure the future of Bard College.
CoChairs: Kathleya Chotiros '98 & Mollie Meikle '03
Members: Charlie Clancy III ‘69, Hasani Gunn '18, Arthur Kilongo '20, Kenny Kosakoff '81, Karen Olah ’65, Geoffrey Stein ’82, Paul Thompson ’93, Maxwell Toth '22, Eric Warren Goldman '98, Brandon Weber ’97
Development Activities
- Participates in peer-to-peer fundraising outreach
- Educates the Board on fundraising and works with volunteers to solicit donors to the College through their social networks and areas of interest
- Committee members opinions are sought on upcoming appeals and fundraising messaging from the college.
- Encourages Board members to put the college in their estate plans
- Comes up with fundraising events and strategics for increased participation.
- Research particular constituents who may be able to help the college.
Diversity Committee
The Diversity Committee exists to welcome and amplify volunteer voices, works, and ideas of communities and cultures historically marginalized in liberal arts and sciences education. The Committee creates connections to the current student body and invites students to share their experiences with the membership of the Board of Governors.
Chair(s): Nikkya Hargrove ’05, Genya Shimkin ’08
Members: Shaun Mahan '12, Kristin Waters '73
Diversity Activities
- Organizes gatherings for networking and discussion
- Plans educational and stimulating events that will be of interest to diverse population of alumni/ae
- Connects with the DEI office on campus and assists in their efforts to promote equity on campus across all populations
- Assists as mentors or contacts for prospective students, admitted students, and recent graduates
Events Committee
The Events Committee develops ideas for, promotes, and attends events that are designed to engage and attract Bard alumni/ae, with the goal of bringing unconnected alumni/ae in contact with fellow Bardians to foster loyalty and interest in the College.
Chair(s): Randy Faerber ’73, George Smith ’82
Members: Beth Shaw Adelman ’74, Robert Amsterdam ’53, Caia Diepenbrock ’15, Mollie Meikle ’03, Anne Morris-Stockton ’68, Maxwell Toth ’22
Event Committee Activities
- Solicits and comes up with ideas for new events that will appeal to a broad range of alumni/ae
- Assists with Alumni/ae Affairs events including Reunion planning, Holiday Party, and Cities Parties
- Maintains spreadsheet of potential events including costs, attendance limit, and cross-generational appeal
Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee collects and collates applications of alumni/ae who are interested in Board membership through their own self-nomination or that of fellow alumni/ae. Reviews engagement levels and interest in members whose terms are up for renewal. Assists Alumni/ae Affairs in identifying exceptional alumni/ae and members of the Bard community to be nominated for Bard College Awards and alumni/ae honorary degrees.
Chair(s): Sonja Hood ’90, Ryan Mesina '06
Members: Jack Blum ’62, Peter McCabe ’70, Walter Swett ’96, Zubeida Ullah-Eilenberg ’97
Nominations Activities
- Solicits, researches, and recommends new board members and nominations for officers on the board
- Researches and recommends alumni/ae and members of the Bard community to be suggested to Alumni/ae Affairs as potential award or honorary degree recipients
- Maintains and updates Welcome Packet for all new and renewed members
- Meets in August to discuss Awards and meets in January to discuss new nominations and renewals to the BoG.
Strategic Planning Committee
Develops overall strategies and measurable actions which the Board of Governors can take to address needs and relevant issues.
Chair: Hannah Byrnes-Enoch ‘08
Members: Michael Burgevin '10, Peter Criswell ’89, Greg Drilling '16, Richard Frank '74, Alexander Habiby ‘18, Steve Miller ’70, Lindsay Stanley '12
Strategic Planning Activities
- Develops a strategic plan for the BoG
- Holds conference calls with the executive committee and committee members
Young Alumnx Committee
The goal of the Young Alumnx Commitee is to provide resources, insight, and support to Bardians in the years after they graduate. They are excited to make connections with Bard students while they are still on campus and do what they can to enrich the student experience. Whether students or alumnx are looking for advice, networking, summer work opportunities, or want to discuss joining the board, they can email the committee anytime at [email protected].
Chair(s): Hannah Becker ’11, Claire Phelan '11
Members: Connor Boehme '17, Caia Diepenbrock '15, Nolan English '13, Alexander Habiby '18, Miriam Huppert ’13, Jacob Lester '20, Darren Mack ’13, Emily Melendes TON '20, Gerald Pambo-Awich ’08, Maxwell Toth '22
Young Alumnx Recent Projects
- Welcome letter to the class of 2024
- Publishing the first Bardian Holiday Gift Guide
- Procurrng bard.edu emails for recent graduates
- Alumnx Highlights on Instagram to encourage students and alumnx to connect for guidance/mentorship
Board of Governor Members
| Mollie Meikle ’03, President, Development Committee Cochair Gerry Pambo-Awich ’08, Vice President Kristin Waters ’73, Secretary Beth Shaw Adelman ’74 Hannah Becker ’11 Jack Blum ’62 Connor Boehme ’17 Michael Burgevin ’10 Hannah Byrnes-Enoch ’08, Strategic Planning Committee Cochair Matthew Cameron ’04 Kathleya Chotiros ’98, Development Committee Cochair Charles Clancy III ’69* Tyrone Santana Copeland ’01 Peter Criswell ’89* Caia Diepenbrock ’15 Greg Drilling ’16 Nicolai Eddy ’14 Nolan English ’13 * Denotes Past President | Randy Faerber ’73, Events Committee Cochair Tamar Faggen '23 Andrew Fowler ’95 Eric Goldman ’98 Hasani Gunn ’18 Alexander Habiby ’18 Boriana Handjiyska ’02, Career Connections Committee Cochair Nikkya Hargrove ’05 Sonja Hood ’90, Nominations Committee Cochair Maud Kersnowski Sachs ’86 Kenny Kosakoff ’81 Jacob Lester ’20 Darren Mack ’13 Ava Mazzye ’20 Peter McCabe ’70* Emily Melendes TŌN ’20 Ryan Mesina ’06, Nominations Committee Cochair
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George Smith ’82, Events Committee Cochair Thoko Soko ’20 Geoffrey Stein ’82 Walter Swett ’96* Paul Thompson ’93 Maxwell Toth ’22 Zubeida Ullah-Eilenberg ’97 Brandon Weber ’97 Ato Williams ’12 Nathan Xu ’17 | Emeritus/a: Claire Angelozzi ’74 Robert Amsterdam ’53 Penny Axelrod ’63 Mimi Roskin Berger ’56 Cathaline Cantalupo ’67 Arnold Davis ’44* Michael DeWitt '65* Michelle Dunn Marsh ’95* Robert Edmonds ’68* Naomi Bellison Feldman ’53* Barbara Grossman Flanagan ’60 Richard Gerber ’71* Michael Glass ’75 Diana Hirsch Friedman ’68 Ann Ho ’62 Charles Hollander ’65 Maggie Hopp ’67 Cynthia Hirsch Levy ’65 William Lowe ’66* Steven Miller ’70 David E Schwab II ’52* Roger Scotland ’93 Mackie Siebens ’12* Walter Swett ’96* Olivier te Boekhorst ’93 Toni-Michelle Travis ’69 Paul Weinstein ’73* John Weisman ’64* Barbara Crane Wigren ’68 |