Mawrters Through and Through

“Now, as a teacher of young children on campus, I have an expanded appreciation for the playful natural landscape. I see how the majestic ginkgo tree at the Thorne preschool in fall drops all its leaves at once, creating a carpet of gold and magical leaf piles … I appreciate how fun it is to slide on the snow of the cricket field and look for animal tracks around our school building. I am inspired by the excitement of my kindergarteners to look more closely at all the beautiful outdoor spaces.”

— Rachel Manuszak Stern ’92, Kindergarten Teacher at Bryn Mawr's Phebe Anna Thorne School

THE CONNECTION

“When I was a graduate student, I was the Work Study Coordinator As well as a mentor to one of the undergraduate volunteer programs. I appreciated being part of the staff and getting a glimpse into undergraduate student life. Now, I still appreciate the supportive staff community at Bryn Mawr.”

— Quanisha Green, M.S.S. ’15, Associate Director of the Center for Professional Development
 

“I think being an alum makes me more appreciative of the mission and very interested in maintaining connections to students and the work they are doing on campus. I suppose being an alum has also made me less hesitant to reach out to everyone on campus—no matter who you are, or where you are, I always assume the best possible answer because the response of the community helping students, and alums helping alums, is invariably generous!”

— Diane Gentry ’98, Associate Director of Prospect Development for Alumnae/i Relations & Development

“It’s the connection between peers that I value the most at Bryn Mawr. I loved sharing hallways with international classmates, although most of my time outside of classes was spent on the athletic field (as field hockey and lacrosse captain). Now, 23 years after graduation, having lived abroad and in every time zone in the U.S., I have yet to find a place as unique as Bryn Mawr.”

— Jenny (Yuh) Lo ’01, Associate Director of Annual Giving

THE NEXT GENERATION

“I feel strongly about the quality of the M.S.S. program, so returning to work for the school was an easy decision for me. Being an alum of the program has definitely been beneficial when meeting with prospective students. I feel that sharing my personal and professional experiences helps them to see the value of the degree.”

— Sheila Gillin, M.S.S. ’98, Director of Graduate Admissions, Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research 

“I’m a proud first-generation student, and Bryn Mawr gave me a strong foundation in liberal arts education. From working in professional sports to managing websites to earning my doctorate in educational leadership, that liberal arts foundation has impacted my life in countless ways.

On a personal level, Bryn Mawr challenged ideas I grew up with, how I viewed the world, and measurements of my self-worth … Working here and putting my whole heart into each contribution I make is my way of saying thank you and giving back. I continue to marvel at how amazing Bryn Mawr students are. It challenges my imposter syndrome, and I feel lucky to be part of this special community.”

— Amanda Coltri ’04, Associate Director, Web Strategy and Content

“In admissions, sometimes you feel like there are so many schools out there just like the one you represent. I knew from my own experience (and its place as one of fewer than 30 women’s colleges in the U.S.) that Bryn Mawr was really special, and that I’d never have that feeling while working here.”

— Eliza Mlodzinski ’21, Admissions Counselor

“My favorite part of being a student at Bryn Mawr was the feeling of freedom and possibility—like my friends and I could do anything … As a staff member, I love seeing students walk around campus with that same energy.”

— Cayla McNally ’10, Assistant Director of Alumnae/i Relations and Development Marketing & Communications