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Alumnae Association Mission Statement

The mission of the Spence School Alumnae Association is to foster opportunities for all alumnae to maintain an active relationship with the School and to provide an inclusive environment in which to do so. 
In line with Spence's values of equity and belonging, the Alumnae Association aims to provide an array of offerings encouraging alumnae to engage and connect in a meaningful way across class years. This includes opportunities for alumnae to give back to the School community and to current students. Reflecting and honoring our School motto, the Spence School Alumnae Association works to support the lifelong learning and development of each alumna.

DANA WALLACH JONES ‘93, ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

“My position as Alumnae Association President allows me the distinct privilege of working with a diverse group of dedicated alumnae volunteers across the globe who uphold Spence’s mission through engaging initiatives that maintain our connection to the school. I am continually in awe of the dynamic group of women who are connected through the shared experience of time spent behind the Red Doors. As evidenced by outstanding alumnae participation in Spence’s Annual Fund and in inspiring and thought-provoking programming, the Alumnae Association fosters a continuing and meaningful point of connection for all alumnae.”

41%

Alumnae Participation
in the 2022-2023 Annual Fund

439

Active alumnae volunteers ranging from the classes of 1947-2023

621

indiSPENCEable ALUMNAE
who have given to the Annual Fund for 10 or more consecutive years

8

Alumnae Trustees

Get Involved

If you are interested in becoming involved with the activities of the Alumnae Association, contact Emily Stone in the Development office.

Thank you.

List of 6 items.

  • Alumnae Board of Directors 2023–2024

    President: Dana Wallach Jones ‘93
    Vice President: Brooke Williams ’84
    Secretary: Stephanie Cabrera Esenwa ’97
     
    Alumnae Outreach Chairs:
    • Denise Burrell-Stinson ’91 
    • Tory Jennings Diamond ’97        
    • Courtney Fleischman Tofsky ’04
    • Morgan Kang ’16
     
    Annual Fund Chairs:
    • Sylvia Totah Calabrese ’69
    • Meredith Rubel Lipsher ’86
    • Samantha Warshauer Heffner ’98
    • Emily Washkowitz Tarkan ’04
     
    Diversity Chairs:
    • Degan Mercado Leopold ’99
    • Marian Lewin ’08
    • Greer Bizzell-Hatcher ’17
     
    Planned Giving Chairs:
    • Susan Ainsworth ’83
    • Christine Lorenzo ’94
    • Antonia Abraham ’99
    • Allison Lehrer Chiaramonte ’01
     
    Nominating Chairs:
    • Lauren Kleinberg Levy ’93
    • Hannah Bozian ’09
    Reunion Chairs:
    • Yvonne Rabsatt Woods ’84
    • Denise James-Manuel ’89  
    • Emily Washkowitz Tarkan ’04
    • Elizabeth Sullivan ’14

    Directors:

    • Elena Droutzkoy Corso ’68 
    • Mercedes Dorson ’70
    • Lorie Cowen Levy ’70
    • Meg Hester Giroux ’75
    • Lisa Partin Eiland ’87
    • Dede Welles ’88
    • Denise James-Manuel ’89
    • Catherine Yatrakis Economakis ’90
    • Blair England ’91
    • Caroline Grant ’93
    • Tracey Strauss ’93
    • Heather Cross Berger ’95
    • Alexandra McCown ’96
    • Kristin Ogdon ’96
    • Stephanie Cabrera Esenwa ’97
    • Nadine Hertzog ’97
    • Pratima Narayan ’98
    • Suzie Lamm Roberts ’98 
    • Erica Roizen Belsky ’00
    • Kielley Young ’02
    • Diane Kwon ’03 
    • Courtney Fleischman Tofsky ’04
    • Sarah Kushner ’05
    • Jessica Shanken Reid ’05
    • Caroline Scheinfeld Leventhal ’06
    • Kim Ross ’07
    • Emma Scully ’08
    • Grace Lindsey ’11 
    • Katherine Aitkenhead ’15

    Life Directors
    :
    • Barbara Pollock Youngman ’59
    • Lucy Cullman Danziger ’61
    • Nancy Steeger Jennings ’63
  • Class Representatives

    Class Representatives are an important link between the school and its alumnae. Communication between alumnae helps strengthen bonds and a connection to the past and the future. Encouraging participation in the Annual Fund shows belief in our motto to educate students not just for school, but for life.

    Class Reps, listed below, are responsible for collecting Class Notes and/or asking for contributions to the Annual Fund from their classmates.

    If your class is not listed, we are looking to fill the Class Rep roles. Please contact the Shelley Pyers at spyers@spenceschool.org if you are interested in a position. Thank you.

    Annual Fund Class Representatives collaborate with the Alumnae Relations and Annual Fund Directors, other members of the Advancement Office and the Alumnae Association.

    SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
    • Will contact classmates to help gather class notes, encouraging them to submit them via our Web site or to you directly
    • Will share your contact information in the Alumnae section of the School’s Web site and in the Class Notes section of the School’s annual Bulletin
    • Will forward collected notes to the Alumnae Relations Office by deadlines to be determined
    • Will send periodic updates to classmates regarding alumnae and school events
    • Will encourage classmates to attend alumnae events especially during their Reunion years
    • If in the NY area, will aim to attend the three main Alumnae Board & Class Rep meetings held each year (especially the meeting held in the fall)
    News/Notes Class Representatives collaborate with the Alumnae Relations Office, other members of the Advancement Office and the Alumnae Association.

    SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
    • Will contact classmates to help gather class notes, encouraging them to submit them via our Web site or to you directly
    • Will share your contact information in the Alumnae section of the School’s Web site and in the Class Notes section of the School’s annual Bulletin
    • Will forward collected notes to the Alumnae Relations Office by deadlines to be determined
    • Will send periodic updates to classmates regarding alumnae and school events
    • Will encourage classmates to attend alumnae events especially during their Reunion years
    • If in the NY area, will aim to attend the three main Alumnae Board & Class Rep meetings held each year (especially the meeting held in the fall)
    Representative by Year
  • Outreach Committee

    Co-Chairs:
    • Denise Burrell-Stinson ’91
    • Tory Jennings Diamond ’97
    • Courtney Fleischman Tofsky ’04
    • Morgan Kang ’16
    The mission of the Alumnae Outreach Committee is to develop, extend and maintain the ongoing relationship between alumnae and the School, reinforcing pride in Spence, and by doing so, thereby enhancing alumnae fundraising potential. The activities of this committee include the Annual Alumnae Party, the Young Alumnae Party and cultural and educational events throughout the year. If you have great ideas on how to involve more alumnae in our activities, this is the committee for you.
  • Annual Fund Committee

    Co-Chairs:
    • Sylvia Totah Calabrese ’69
    • Meredith Rubel Lipsher ’86
    • Samantha Warshauer Heffner ’98
    • Emily Washkowitz Tarkan ’04
    The goal of this Committee is to increase alumnae participation in the Spence Annual Fund. Members assist in soliciting fellow alumnae via letters, e-mails and through our phonathons held during the year. Committee members focus on fostering alumnae understanding of the School’s fiscal needs and stressing the importance of participation in the Annual Fund, no matter the amount. New volunteers are always welcome, so if you are interested in helping with Spence’s fundraising efforts, please let us know.
  • Diversity Committee

    Co-Chairs:
    • Degan Mercado Leopold ’99
    • Marian Lewin ’08
    • Greer Bizzell-Hatcher ’17
    The focus of the Diversity Committee is to work with and for students and alums of diversity at Spence and support Spence’s commitment to diversity. The Committee sponsors events with students, parents and alums, providing an outlet for student support as well as networking opportunities. The Committee is also committed to continuing a relationship with Tapestry, the diversity committee of the Parents’ Association. Any interested alumnae are invited to join.
  • Reunion Committee

    Reunion 2024 welcomes all Spence alumnae, while celebrating in particular classes ending in “4” and “9.” Join us on April 11-13, 2024 for the festivities! If you are interested in helping, please contact Shelley Pyers, spyers@spenceschool.org

    To become a Class Representative or to get involved with any of these committees, please contact Shelley Pyers in the Alumnae Relations Office.

    Reunion Co-Chairs

    Yvonne Rabsatt Woods ’84
    Denise James-Manuel ’89  
    Emily Washkowitz Tarkan ’04
    Elizabeth Sullivan ’14
     
    Reunion Committee
    Kit Smyth Basquin ’59
    Ann Doe DuBois ’59
    Elizabeth Franzen Potter ’59
    Sylvia Totah Calabrese ’69
    Kate Cronkite ’69
    Catherine Raymond Flickinger ’69
    Cherida Lally ’69
    Leila Stuart Martin ’69
    Ana Maria Salaya-Gordon ’69
    Donna Russell Cronin ’74
    Wendy Davies ’74
    Lacy Davisson ’74
    Elizabeth Easton ’74
    Katie Ford ’74
    Nancy M. Hughes ’74
    Christina Louis ’74
    Sarah Michel ’74
    Diane Nabatoff ’74
    Eve Morton Ottavino ’74
    Robin Kiam Aviv ’79
    D. R. Davies ’79
    Valerie Ritter Paley ’79
    Lucy Prager Weintraub ’79
    Hilary Mencher Stark ’79
    Emily Altschul-Miller ’84
    Judith S. Greenberg ’84
    Stephanie Hunt ’84
    Elise B. Packard ’84
    Brooke Williams ’84
    Torrance York ’84
    Cornelia K. Frame ’89
    Chaumtoli Huq ’89
    Elizabeth A. Kaiser ’89
    Judy H. Kim ’89
    Wendy Benson Landes ’89
    Adrienne F. Saunders ’89
    Carson Gray ’94
    Sally B. Jennings ’94
    Christine Lorenzo ’94
    Lara P. Mizrack ’94
    Julianna Rosenbluth Obeid ’94
    Lisa Otsubo Yook ’94
    Antonia Abraham ’99
    Anna-Christina Douglas ’99
    Emily Weill Goldfrank ’99
    Jamie Beilin Joseph ’99
    Tijana Perovic ’99
    Pilar J. Queen ’99
    Melissa S. Rothman ’99
    Michelle Silverio ’99
    Elisabeth White ’99
    Debra Aboodi ’04
    Angelica M. Cesario ’04
    Hanna Lundqvist Dameron ’04
    Jessie Della Femina ’04
    Hollie Russon Gilman ’04
    Amy Wolf Malone ’04
    Katie Ostrager Morel ’04
    Jennifer F. Ross ’04
    Emmanuelle G. Rossum ’04
    Dyese C. Taylor ’04
    Courtney Fleischman Tofsky ’04
    Remy Roizen Weinstein ’04
    Hannah Bozian ’09
    Katherine L. Cassirer ’09
    Amanda Clowes ’09
    Charlotte H. Edelson ’09
    Adrienne L. Edwards ’09
    Brooke L. Elmlinger ’09
    Elizabeth Cutler Levitt ’09
    Hillary Neger Sanborn ’09
    Samantha E. Stoner ’09
    Saidah L. A. Belo-Osagie ’14
    Lily E. Cohen ’14
    Tillie Jenkins ’14
    Ana Camila Legaspi ’14
    Isabella S. Marchal ’14
    Haylee R. Price ’14
    Rachel L. Wells ’14
    Mary Ben Apatoff ’19
    Natalia Chino ’19
    Addie Ezersky ’19
    Audrey Flammang ’19
    Ava Ford ’19
    Emily Kim ’19
    Alessa Kim-Panero ’19
    Sylvie Kirsch ’19
    Racheal Lama ’19
    Zadie Stevens-Telesford ’19
    Annie Tan ’19
     

About Our Motto

Not for SCHOOL but for LIFE we learn.
Non scholae sed vitae discimus

When Clara Spence adopted this quotation from Seneca as our motto, she deepened her call for young women to keep learning even if the doors of higher education were closed to them at the time. Today, our motto and mission represent the forever appetite for intellectual adventure and the capacity to chart one’s own path.

We salute the extraordinary Spence alumnae who continue to inspire our motto and mission and make a difference in the world.

Upcoming Events

The Spence Alumnae Office is hitting the road! If you live near any of the below locations, please be sure to contact us with your updated address to receive an invitation. 

Upcoming event information will be shared soon.

Contact Us

Shelley Pyers
Alumnae Director
646-943-6869
spyers@spenceschool.org
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A K-12 independent school in New York city, The Spence School prepares a diverse community of girls and young women for the demands of academic excellence and responsible citizenship.

212-289-5940


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