The Spence School Alumnae Association proudly announces the recipients of this year’s Judith Joseph Jenkins ’91 Distinguished Alumna Award: Denise Burrell-Stinson ’91 and Maggi Witmer Pack ’71. Both recipients will be celebrated at this year’s Alumnae Reunion.

Denise Burrell-Stinson ’91 has worked in media for over two decades. She shifted her focus to content marketing in 2015 when she joined The New York Times as a culture editor at T Brand Studio. In this role, she was part of the first fully-staffed team at the in-house creative agency at the Times. From there, Denise went to The Washington Post's WP Brand Studio. She started out as a content director and was named head of WP Brand Studio in 2021. She helped develop marketing strategies that spanned video, podcasting, and data visualization. 

In 2022, Denise joined Warner Brothers Discovery, where she was a Vice President of sports marketing. However, her most challenging and rewarding venture so far has been the launch of The Oliphant, an independent content studio named after her grandmother.

Denise has served on the Alumnae Board in various capacities since 2002. Like her childhood friend and classmate Judith Joseph Jenkins ’91, for whom the award is named, Denise is a stalwart alumna, and an esteemed member of the Alumnae Board. She currently serves as an Outreach Co-Chair, and was previously a Diversity Co-Chair (2015-2018 and 2022) and a Reunion Co-Chair (2021). Denise has served as a member of her Reunion Committee for each of her reunions since 2006, and is an Annual Fund and News and Notes Class Representative. Denise is also an IndiSPENCEable, proudly supporting the Annual Fund every year since 2000. 

 

Maggi Witmer Pack ’71 is a scholar and science professional whose career reflects a sustained commitment to rigorous inquiry, intellectual integrity, and service. Maggi received a Bachelor of Science from Bucknell University, in French and Biology, and her Ph.D. from New York University. She has worked at Rockefeller University since 1976.

 

Her body of work includes over 70 scientific papers, most of which she published with Dr. Ralph Steinman, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2011. Her work has significantly contributed to the field of immunology, specifically the biology of dendritic cells, a type of white blood cell with the unique capacity to initiate T cell immune responses. Harnessing the power of dendritic cells offers new approaches to the treatment of cancer, HIV, autoimmunity and transplantation.

Maggi served on the Alumnae Board from 2011-2018 with leadership roles as an Annual Fund Co-Chair (2011-2018) and Reunion Co-Chair (2011). She is currently a member of her Reunion Committee for the fourth time, and is an Annual Fund and News and Notes Class Representative. Maggi is also an IndiSPENCEable, who has supported the Annual Fund consecutively since 1984, and a member of The 1892 Society, Spence's planned giving society.

Spence is deeply grateful for the many years of service both Maggi and Denise have given to the School and the meaningful and positive impact they have made on the Alumnae Association. Their dedicated service to Spence's mission has been steadfast and will continue to make a difference for many years to come. The alumnae community looks forward to celebrating both recipients and hearing their words of wisdom for the class of ’26 at the annual Alumnae Reunion.