Smith ’69 Academy
In 2022 and 2023, Susan Hall Mygatt (supported by Gale Eaton, Kaethe Weingarten, Judie Feins, Nancy Kovaleff Baker, and Peggy Elman Gillespie) organized a series of nine online study groups, all led by class members. This Smith ’69 Academy offered unique opportunities to gather and engage with a small groups of classmates on topics of mutual interest, for both intellectual stimulation and collegiality. Over the course of the experiment, 59 classmates signed up for one or more of the sessions, bringing the total attendance to 121. These courses have been very interesting and have provided a way to Reconnect with classmates through discussion and inquiry.
Topics and their facilitators included:
- Pauli Murray, led by Susan Hall Mygatt
- Walled Gardens: Colonialism in Children’s Classics, led by Gale Eaton
- Tidying: Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping, led by Gale Eaton
- Turning Passion and Skill into Social Activism, led by Kaethe Weingarten
- Thinking about Reparations, led by Judie Feins
- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, led by Gale Eaton
- Elite Education in Pre-Revolutionary Russia: The Imperial Educational Society of Noble Maidens, led by Nancy Kovaleff Baker
- Understanding Migration Through Short Stories, led by Susan Hall Mygatt
- Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Non-Binary People and Their Families , led by Peggy Elman Gillespie
As Reunion 2024 approaches, Susan is willing to be on a committee to keep the Academy going, but no longer covets the leadership role. If you’d like to volunteer for this rewarding initiative, please contact Susan or Gale.