READ MORE Content – March 2023 Alumnae News & Notes:
Stories of Success
We are pleased to introduce Martece Yates ’16 BSN as one of the newest members of the Alumnae and Alumni Association board of directors. Martece is passionate about Trinity’s outstanding nursing program and wants to share her enthusiasm with fellow alumnae through her service on the Board and by helping students gain internships after graduation. Martece earned her BSN from Trinity in 2016 and is the Nurse Navigator at Sibley Memorial Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medicine. She is certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing and thoroughly enjoys what she is doing. Martece is committed to helping mothers in underserved communities through the childbirth journey.
“I love many aspects of Trinity, such as the knowledgeable professors, supportive study groups, and the nurturing, encouraging environment that fostered my learning. Trinity will always have a special place in my heart.”
Initially, she began college right after high school but was faced with many obstacles that paused her studies to work and raise her family. Nearly 20 years later, she persevered by returning to Trinity to continue her education with the same goal in mind: that Trinity’s Nursing program would provide her with excellent training to be a nurse. “My journey to complete my college degree had some twists and turns over the years. When I came to Trinity, I knew I found the right place. Trinity’s nursing program gave me an excellent education that prepared me for my nursing career and for providing quality care to my patients.”
Maria Barrios-Buendia ’20 BS, ’22 MPH is a proud Latina alumna who is driven to succeed. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Services from Trinity in 2020 and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in community health in 2022. As a Dreamer, higher education would have not been unattainable without Trinity’s continuous scholarship and other financial support. Maria is currently putting her degrees to work at the DC Department of Health, as a bilingual care coordinator for a program called Help Me Grow DC where she previously served as a graduate intern. During Maria’s undergraduate matriculation at Trinity, she interned at the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) as a bilingual helpline and referral specialist. Also, during graduate school, Maria interned at the DC Department of Health, the Community Health Administration, the Family Health Bureau, and the Early Childhood Health Division for the Help Me Grow DC Program. Maria enjoys using her skills to break language barriers in Spanish-speaking communities. Also, she is very passionate about promoting and educating individuals from different backgrounds on the importance of their health and the services available to them in DC.
Maria was born in Guatemala but came to the United States in 2005. As a child she did not understand how being undocumented in this country would impact her life. Between the ages 16-18 Maria began to face challenges because of her citizenship status such as, starting the driver’s license process, receiving health insurance, college acceptances, and being able to receive financial aid. In Maria’s senior year of high school, she started to fill discouraged about fulfilling her dream of obtaining a college education. Getting accepted into Trinity has not only been an accomplishment for Maria but has brought so much joy to her family. Maria loves and enjoys the work she is doing at DC Health!
“Trinity has a special place in my heart. They opened doors for me to obtain the education I dreamed about despite my legal status. They knew that my potential was not define by where I was born, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity Trinity gave me. When I started Trinity, I didn’t understand my own potential, but I discovered it along the way. I learned to dream big and to be confident in my professional work.”
Anna Spriggs ’06 MSA is a leader in her field, within her community, and within the Trinity alum network. She received her Master of Science in Administration degree from Trinity in 2006 and is the Chief of Human Resources and Administration for Truth Initiative, America’s largest nonprofit public health organization committed to ending nicotine addiction. Over her many years in HR, she has seen a great need for mentors of young Black professionals and has responded by offering Trinity students internships and continued mentorship as they progress in their careers.
Ms. Spriggs has a passion for giving back and advocating for women. She currently serves on the board of trustees of the Community Advocates for Family & Youth (CAFY) and has volunteered at Mt Calvary’s women’s shelter teaching women interview skills. Anna believes in paying it forward and has shared her considerable expertise as an adjunct professor in Trinity’s MSA program since 2011.
As a vital player in Truth Initiative’s success from its beginning in 1999, she is responsible for the organization’s HR strategic planning, recruitment and retention, benefits, training and development, compensation, legal compliance, employee relations and performance management. In 2018, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers honored Anna Spriggs and her HR team for three awards including Gold for Achievement in Workplace Health and Wellbeing (which was an expansion of her capstone project at Trinity which she was able to implement at TI). More than 500 companies from 27 countries submitted entries for these international awards – and they won in every category they entered and Anna was selected Chief of Human Resources Officer of the year! Anna is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from HRCI and a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) from Society of Human Resources.
“I love Trinity. I am grateful for the authentic connections I made and the small classes and excellent faculty that ensured my success. I am honored to give back by supporting students through mentorship, facilitating professional connections, and by contributing to Trinity philanthropically.”
March 2023 Alumnae News & Notes – Full Issue:
March 2023
Dear Trinity Alumnae and Alumni,
Spring is in full bloom here at Trinity, and our 125th Anniversary Era continues with a bountiful range of events and achievements of students and alumnae alike. We are pleased to share some of the recent Trinity success stories in this newsletter, as well as plans for the October 2023 All- Alumnae Reunion program.
We are particularly delighted to extend Trinity congratulations to the Honorable Kathleen Passidomo ’75, newly installed president of the Florida State Senate! President Passidomo has served Florida with distinction in the state Assembly and Senate since 2010. Her election to Senate president is the crowning achievement in her long career in public service. Congratulations, Kathleen!
If you have news you’d like to share, please send it along using this link where you may also share your feedback on this newsletter. We encourage you to visit Class Notes Online where you will find a tab offering another way to enter your news, through class notes.
We are eager to welcome you back to Trinity for the annual All-Alumnae Reunion on October 26-28 — more on this below!
Finally, thanks to all alumnae and alumni who have supported Trinity this year with generous gifts to the Annual Fund. Please help Trinity to meet our June 30 goal of $1 million for the Annual Fund by making a new or additional gift today. Your gifts make our student success stories possible! There is so much to be proud of at Trinity and we truly appreciate your engagement and support of this dynamic university.
With gratitude for your generosity,
Ashley
Ashley C. Bianchi
Executive Director of Alumnae/i Giving and Engagement
bianchia@trinitydc.edu | 202-844-9724
Stories of Success
We are pleased to introduce Martece Yates ’16 BSN as one of the newest members of the Alumnae and Alumni Association board of directors. Martece is passionate about Trinity’s outstanding nursing program and wants to share her enthusiasm with fellow alumnae through her service on the Board and by helping students gain internships after graduation. Martece earned her BSN from Trinity in 2016 and is the Nurse Navigator at Sibley Memorial Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medicine. She is certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing and thoroughly enjoys what she is doing. Martece is committed to helping mothers in underserved communities through the childbirth journey.
“I love many aspects of Trinity, such as the knowledgeable professors, supportive study groups, and the nurturing, encouraging environment that fostered my learning. Trinity will always have a special place in my heart.”
Initially, she began college right after high school but was faced with many obstacles that paused her studies to work and raise her family. Nearly 20 years later, she persevered by returning to Trinity to continue her education with the same goal in mind: that Trinity’s Nursing program would provide her with excellent training to be a nurse. “My journey to complete my college degree had some twists and turns over the years. When I came to Trinity, I knew I found the right place. Trinity’s nursing program gave me an excellent education that prepared me for my nursing career and for providing quality care to my patients.”
Maria Barrios-Buendia ’20 BS, ’22 MPH is a proud Latina alumna who is driven to succeed. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Services from Trinity in 2020 and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in community health in 2022. As a Dreamer, higher education would have not been unattainable without Trinity’s continuous scholarship and other financial support. Maria is currently putting her degrees to work at the DC Department of Health, as a bilingual care coordinator for a program called Help Me Grow DC where she previously served as a graduate intern. During Maria’s undergraduate matriculation at Trinity, she interned at the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) as a bilingual helpline and referral specialist. Also, during graduate school, Maria interned at the DC Department of Health, the Community Health Administration, the Family Health Bureau, and the Early Childhood Health Division for the Help Me Grow DC Program. Maria enjoys using her skills to break language barriers in Spanish-speaking communities. Also, she is very passionate about promoting and educating individuals from different backgrounds on the importance of their health and the services available to them in DC.
Maria was born in Guatemala but came to the United States in 2005. As a child she did not understand how being undocumented in this country would impact her life. Between the ages 16-18 Maria began to face challenges because of her citizenship status such as, starting the driver’s license process, receiving health insurance, college acceptances, and being able to receive financial aid. In Maria’s senior year of high school, she started to fill discouraged about fulfilling her dream of obtaining a college education. Getting accepted into Trinity has not only been an accomplishment for Maria but has brought so much joy to her family. Maria loves and enjoys the work she is doing at DC Health!
“Trinity has a special place in my heart. They opened doors for me to obtain the education I dreamed about despite my legal status. They knew that my potential was not define by where I was born, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity Trinity gave me. When I started Trinity, I didn’t understand my own potential, but I discovered it along the way. I learned to dream big and to be confident in my professional work.”
Anna Spriggs ’06 MSA is a leader in her field, within her community, and within the Trinity alum network. She received her Master of Science in Administration degree from Trinity in 2006 and is the Chief of Human Resources and Administration for Truth Initiative, America’s largest nonprofit public health organization committed to ending nicotine addiction. Over her many years in HR, she has seen a great need for mentors of young Black professionals and has responded by offering Trinity students internships and continued mentorship as they progress in their careers.
Ms. Spriggs has a passion for giving back and advocating for women. She currently serves on the board of trustees of the Community Advocates for Family & Youth (CAFY) and has volunteered at Mt Calvary’s women’s shelter teaching women interview skills. Anna believes in paying it forward and has shared her considerable expertise as an adjunct professor in Trinity’s MSA program since 2011.
As a vital player in Truth Initiative’s success from its beginning in 1999, she is responsible for the organization’s HR strategic planning, recruitment and retention, benefits, training and development, compensation, legal compliance, employee relations and performance management. In 2018, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers honored Anna Spriggs and her HR team for three awards including Gold for Achievement in Workplace Health and Wellbeing (which was an expansion of her capstone project at Trinity which she was able to implement at TI). More than 500 companies from 27 countries submitted entries for these international awards – and they won in every category they entered and Anna was selected Chief of Human Resources Officer of the year! Anna is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from HRCI and a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) from Society of Human Resources.
“I love Trinity. I am grateful for the authentic connections I made and the small classes and excellent faculty that ensured my success. I am honored to give back by supporting students through mentorship, facilitating professional connections, and by contributing to Trinity philanthropically.”
Campus News
Trinity STEM Scholars Earn Top Honors at NASA DC Space Grant Awards!
“I am extremely proud of all our students and how much they have grown since they started their internships this past summer,” said Dr. Anette Casiano-Negroni, Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Trinity who mentors the NASA Scholars. Trinity STEM Scholars received four of the seven awards presented! First place winner Martha Rondon ’23, pictured. Read More>>
Trinity Times Is Back!
The new Trinity Times digital site has launched, resuming the student publication tradition. The new Trinity Times will offer news in the traditional article format, as well as digital content in the form of video and podcasting, all while engaging the wider audience in social media. The creation of the new multimedia newsroom was made possible through a grant from the Evelyn V. Davis Foundation. Read all about it in the Trinity Times February Edition
Trinity Senior Honored with Research Award
Trinity’s Myla Johnson ’23 was awarded the prestigious APPLE grant from the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) to continue her research on “Predicting Emotional and Behavior Functioning of African American Boys” under the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Bishop, Psychology Chair. She will be presenting her study at AP-LS’s annual conference later this year. Read More>>
Dr. Christine Carrino Gorowara Appointed Dean of Trinity’s School of Education
Dr. Gorowara brings extensive expertise and leadership experience to Trinity’s education programs. Dr. Gorowara joins Trinity’s leadership team from the University of Delaware where she has been a member of the Education faculty and the senior associate director of the Center for Excellence and Equity in Teacher Preparation. Read More>>
Happenings & Events
Trinity’s 125th Anniversary Hits the Road in Naples, Florida
On February 25th, 2023, more than 30 alumnae and guests from west Florida gathered to celebrate Trinity’s 125th Anniversary and hear from students and recent alumnae spanning over seven decades – with class members from 1958 – 2023 represented. President McGuire offered an update on campus news and assured alumnae that Trinity continues to thrive and is stronger than ever in providing an ongoing tradition of academic excellence.
Current students, Ingrid Tchouamo ‘23, President of the Trinity Student Government Council, and her classmate, Humaira Ashrafi ‘23, pictured at top with the Golds of ’63, shared their mutual appreciation for all the support and great educational opportunities Trinity has provided.
Two recent Trinity graduates and sisters, Jessica Alonso ’19 BA, ’22 MBA and Brenda Alonso ’18 BA, ’22 MBA, pictured here, also attended and shared how their Trinity education has translated into professional success – each is living in Bradenton, Florida, and working in exciting and important positions for Manatee County.
Special thanks to Ann Philley Stallkamp ’70 for hosting the luncheon at the lovely Royal Poinciana Club!
Alumnae and Alumni Board Welcomes New Members
We are pleased to welcome three outstanding women as the newest members of the Alumnae and Alumni Association board: Maura Cleary Dunnigan ‘90 BA (far right); Sherron Washington ‘03 BA, ‘05 MA (far left); and Martece Yates ‘16 BSN (second left). They each bring a wealth of knowledge, a fierce affection for Trinity, and boundless energy and ideas. We are so fortunate they have chosen to share their talents with us in support of Trinity and the alum community.
Three Distinguished Alumnae to Speak with Student Group
Judge Jeanette Clark ’70, Ara Johnson Bland ’69, and Bettie Grant Crawl ’69 have graciously accepted the invitation to speak with the Black Student Alliance on March 28 at 1:00 p.m. BSA student leader Binta Diakite ’25 and faculty advisor Dr. Kimberly Monroe are spearheading this exciting program highlighting the achievements of Black Trinity alumnae exemplars.
Jean Case: Be Fearless
Jean Case, a leading entrepreneur, and philanthropist inspired students, faculty, and staff as a special featured speaker at Trinity on Tuesday, February 8, 2023. She is the chair of the board of National Geographic, CEO of the Case Foundation (founded with her husband Steve Case of AOL), and the author of “Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose.” Students were given copies of her book, which she signed after her talk. Watch the live stream and Q&A here! Read More>>
SAVE THE DATE – Reunion 2023!
Trinity’s 125th Anniversary Celebration and
All-Alumnae/i Reunion
October 26-28, 2023
Schedule of Events
October 26, 2023
Alumnae College
October 27, 2023
Symposium and Welcome Reception
October 28, 2023
Convocation, Senior Caps & Gowns,
Reunion Luncheon, Class Activities, Reunion Liturgy, and Farewell Reception