President’s Newsletter – May 2023
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Dear Trinity Alumnae and Alumni, Family and Friends,
Spring season at Trinity is a time for many joyful festivities as our seniors look forward to commencement while also indulging in nostalgic memories of their Trinity days. On Founders Day in late April, we gathered once more to remember and celebrate the great women whose courage and creative genius gave life to Trinity 125 years ago. Trinity Founders Sisters Julia McGroarty and Mary Euphrasia Taylor would have thoroughly enjoyed the traditional Founders Day picnic; I am also sure that they were smiling broadly upon the Gold Class of 2023 as we saluted their many achievements in the Senior Award Ceremony.
This edition of the President’s Newsletter shares several of the amazing stories of today’s Trinity students. These profiles reveal the impact of the investments our alumnae and benefactors make in our students. Your gifts to the Trinity Annual Fund provide a portion of the more than $10 million we award annually in Trinity grants and scholarships for worthy undergraduate students with high financial need. Your special gifts support excellence and innovation in our academic programs. For example, recent reunion gifts support our initiatives in Environmental Justice; other alumnae gifts support Political Science and Global Affairs; still others support Nursing and healthcare programs.
I hope you enjoy these stories of the many ways in which today’s students continue Trinity’s grand tradition of academic achievement. And thank you for your Annual Fund gift to Trinity!
STUDENT EXCELLENCE
Andrea Chaves ’23 Heading to Brown University Graduate School
With a major in Chemistry and minor in Data Analytics, Andrea Chavez has been an academic and campus leadership superstar during her student days. In March, she added her crowning achievement: the Health Equity Scholars Award at Brown University that will support 100% of her tuition along with a research assistantship in the Masters in Public Health Program.
A graduate of Oxon Hill High School in Maryland, Andrea has taken full advantage of the great opportunities she found at Trinity. She is currently a research fellow at Johns Hopkins University in a partnership with Trinity, funded through the Sloan Foundation. She previously was a Trinity fellow in a special program with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. A Dreamer Scholar, she is also an active advocate for undocumented students.
Andrea was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in her junior year. After she earns her master’s in public health at Brown, Andrea says, “I plan to come back to D.C. and work on Capitol Hill, influencing health policy and being a voice of change for our community. I want to bring us closer to passing a universal healthcare bill and developing programs to help black and brown communities.”
Myla Johnson ’23 Recognized by American Psychology-Law Society
A Phi Beta Kappa scholar, senior Psychology Major Myla Johnson recently received recognition through the American Psychology-Law Society. Myla received the Access Path to Psychology and Law Experience (APPLE) Program Award for her research study, “Predicting Emotional and Behavior Functioning of African American Boys: The Impact of Absentee Fathers in the Home.” She began her project in fall 2022 and continues to work on it this spring in her undergraduate research psychology course under the mentorship of Psychology Professor Dr. Christopher Bishop (pictured with Myla). She will be presenting her results at the 2024 AP-LS conference.
Myla came to Trinity after earning her associate’s degree at Northern Virginia Community College. Dr. Bishop immediately recognized her talent and approached her about the research project. Myla says that having her academic strengths recognized by a Trinity professor surprised and pleased her. “I can’t remember a time that a teacher or professor reached out to me, and it really boosted my confidence and my commitment to continue my studies in psychology.” She added, “Trinity professors make time for you, and they make it clear that they genuinely want you to succeed academically.” Myla plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology, with a specialization in forensics.
Jennae Whitted ’23 Heading to Rutgers for Master’s Degree
Senior and Clare Boothe Luce Scholar Jennae Whitted, a Biology major with a minor in Bioinformatics, has chosen to pursue her master’s degree in Toxicology at Rutgers University. Jennae (pictured) received recognition from the Society of Toxicology for her research abstract, “Associations of Urinary Phthalate Metabolites with Ovarian Volume and Differences by Change in BMI since Age 18.” Jennae conducted the research in summer 2022 at Michigan State University where she was a BRUSHES intern (Biomedical Research for University Students in Health Sciences and Environmental Sciences.) A graduate of Benjamin Banneker High School in Washington, Jennae aims to focus her graduate study on toxicology as a means to identify environmental chemicals that impact human health.
STEM Scholars Take Top Prizes at NASA DC Space Grant Competition
Four Trinity science majors received awards at the NASA DC Space Grant competition in February. Trinity partners with American University for this NASA program. Among the student winners, Biology major Martha Rondon ’23 (pictured) won first prize for her presentation on “Harmful Air Pollutants: PM2.5 and Black Carbon in Washington, D.C., Neighborhoods Impacted by Diesel Truck Traffic.” Other awards went to Trinity student research presentations on patterns of urban wildlife, harmful chemicals in weight loss supplements, and an energy study of carbon nanotube yarn supercapacitors.Trinity Students Named Citizens for Global Solutions Fellows
Six Trinity students were chosen as Citizens for Global Solutions fellows in Spring 2023. Led by Global Affairs Professor Dr. Allen Pietrobon, the Trinity delegation traveled to the United Nations headquarters in New York City in March to participate in the Global Futures Forum. During this two-day gathering, Trinity students joined others to discuss policy proposals on a range of issues from climate change to human rights and peacebuilding. Sophomore Skylar Blue wrote about her experience, “This Fellowship is a great opportunity to be able to launch into the political world. It gives me the opportunity to be a part of something to change the world for the good of all. I take this very seriously because these are the first steps we can take to create the bigger change we need.”
(Pictured from left: Trinity students Lexi Bernier and Camila Perez, Dr. Allen Pietrobon, Assistant Professor of Global Affairs, and students Skylar Blue, Sircey Smith, Annissa Young and Elroi Mekonen)
2023 Katherine Johnson Award Winners
Senior Biology major Dongo Kaka (pictured), also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, won this year’s Katherine Johnson Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics. Johnson awards also went to Junior Biochemistry major Yesica Tumax, Sophomore Biochemistry major Florence Njoroge, and First Year Biology major Alejandra Marin Argueta.
The Johnson Award was created by Jurate Kazickas ’64 to inspire Trinity students to emulate the achievements of Katherine Johnson, one of the renowned Black women mathematicians who helped to launch the NASA space program.
15 Students Elected to Phi Beta Kappa
Continuing a grand Trinity tradition since 1971, 15 high achieving students achieved membership in Phi Beta Kappa, one of the most prestigious honor societies in the nation. The students represent a broad range of majors including Biochemistry, Psychology, International Affairs and others with GPAs in the 3.7 to 4.0 range. The new inductees for the Epsilon Chapter include students who have been campus leaders, student journalists, volunteers and women who have made their impact across many activities. 40% are Dreamer Scholars. Four of the new PBK members are graduates of D.C. Public Schools including Banneker, School Without Walls, McKinley Tech and Roosevelt. What an accomplished group!2023 Phi Beta Kappa Inductees:
CAMPUS NEWS & EVENTS
A Conversation with Black Alumnae
In late March, as part of Trinity’s Women’s History Month observance, the Black Student Alliance and Trinity History Project hosted a panel discussion with Black Alumnae.
The Honorable Jeanette Jackson Clark ’70, senior judge of D.C. Superior Court and a former Trinity trustee, joined educators and entrepreneurs Bettie Grant Crawl ’69 and Ara Johnson Bland ’69. Facing considerable racism at Trinity in the late 1960’s, Bettie and Ara led the way in forming Trinity’s first Afro-American student organization, the precursor to today’s Black Student Alliance. Black Student Alliance president Binta Diakite moderated the discussion which highlighted the women’s experiences at Trinity during the late 1960s. Judge Clark specially discussed the aftermath of Martin Luther King, Jr’s death, and her fear of being on a predominately white campus during that time. The intergenerational dialogue provided current students with insights to overcome racism and discrimination in the real world.
The alumnae also spoke honestly and directly with students about barriers of race and gender that continue to exist in professional and community life, and how to surmount the barriers and persist in pursuit of professional and personal success.
Early College Academy: First Cohort Graduates!
The first cohort of the Early College Academy that Trinity conducts in cooperation with Coolidge High School will graduate in May. 36 students will receive their associate degrees, completing their first two years of college even while completing high school. Early College graduate Karla Azucena Amaya Rodriguez receives her acceptance to Trinity from President Patricia McGuire and Dean Sita Ramamurti (pictured).
Dr. Sita Ramamurti, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences who oversees the program, declares that, “These students have developed higher levels of academic and social competencies and they are well prepared to intellectually engage with diverse issues and challenges facing today’s society. I am confident that as they begin the next phase in their lives, the path they will pursue will continue to make Trinity proud.”
Reunion and 125th Anniversary Celebration
October 26-28, 2023
Register Now!
Mark your calendar for an unforgettable weekend: raise your spirits, stimulate your intellect, and reconnect with lifelong friends! Registration for Fall 2023 Reunion is now open!
Three Captivating Days of Celebration!
- Alumnae College on Thursday, October 26 – Today’s faculty and students are eager to welcome alumnae to class! You will be able to choose from classes offered in many disciplines, then enjoy lunch with friends and students in Alumnae Hall.
- Symposium and Reception on Friday, October 27 – Trinity’s academic excellence will be on display at the Symposium on Artificial Intelligence. You are invited to lunch in Alumnae Hall, then enjoy strolling campus and a lovely Welcome Reception on the Marble Corridor.
- Convocation and All-Alumnae/i Reunion Luncheon, Saturday, October 28 – Reunion begins with Senior Cap & Gown Convocation in Notre Dame Chapel followed by the annual Reunion Luncheon for all alumnae and alumni, class activities, Well Sing, Reunion Liturgy, and then closes with a Farewell Reception on the lawn.
Trinity’s Anniversary Era Has More to Come! Mark your calendars for the next two years of 125th Anniversary and All-Alumnae/i Reunion celebrations: October 24-26 , 2024 and October 23-25, 2025.
YOUR Annual Fund Gift Supports Student Achievements!
The highly accomplished seniors profiled in this newsletter are just several of the nearly 2,000 students pursuing their degrees at Trinity. Their achievements are possible, in part, thanks to the generosity of our many donors supporting the Annual Fund or scholarships, the excellence of our faculty supported by grants for research and professional development, and the quality of our laboratories and instructional environment requiring continuous upgrades.
Our goal for the 2022-2023 Annual Fund is $1 million.
Help Trinity reach our goal and provide invaluable aid to our dedicated students.
Make YOUR Annual Fund gift today!